The office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the preliminary report Thursday, that released immigration information on Fernando Fernel Lopez Aguilar. Aguilar was traveling too fast and ran a stop sign, causing a three car accident that killed a twelve year old girl, Lea Phann.
Grassley’s office reported:
“Lopez Aguilar apparently received deferred deportation protection under the Obama Administration’s executive action on immigration. However, he has since fallen out of status with the program and remains in the country illegally.”
Lea Phann
From The Des Moines Register:
On Sept. 8, Lopez Aguilar was arrested following the crash at Southeast Sixth and Bell Avenue. On Sept. 9, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed an immigration hold, also called a detainer, on Lopez Aguilar, an ICE spokesman said Wednesday.
Polk County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brandon Bracelin, a spokesman for the Polk County Jail, said Tuesday night that the jail will notify ICE if Lopez Aguilar is able to post bail. He is in custody at the Polk County Jail on a $560,000 cash bond, according to jail records.
Lopez Aguilar faces criminal charges of homicide by reckless driving, two counts of serious injury by reckless driving, child endangerment, operating without a driver’s license, and having no insurance.
A spokesman for Grassley’s office said in an email Thursday that officials are still expecting more information on Lopez Aguilar’s immigration history to be released by the Department of Homeland Security.
