PHOENIX, AZ – An illegal alien who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly causing a rollover crash that killed her 9-year-old daughter in Phoenix was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this past April after the county attorney failed to formally file charges.
According to local reports out of Phoenix, Brenda Liliana Rivera-Estrada was arrested in connection with an April 12th single-vehicle rollover crash that occurred on I-17 near the Cactus Road exit. Four children were reportedly inside of the vehicle at the time Rivera-Estrada was driving, including her 9-year-old daughter who passed away after being ejected from the vehicle.
Rivera-Estrada was subsequently booked on charges of manslaughter and child abuse, with authorities suspecting the woman’s alleged impairment was the cause of the single-vehicle crash. Bond for the defendant was initially set at $100,000 but Rivera-Estrada was later released from state custody after the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined prosecution.
However, ICE was able to take Rivera-Estrada into custody on April 16th without incident, citing how the agency “maintains a presence” at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office’s Intake, Transfer and Release facility which helped facilitate the seamless transfer in custody.
“This critical enforcement activity is part of ICE’s Criminal Alien Program, which provides for the safe and efficient custodial transfer of criminal aliens into ICE custody through a controlled environment, significantly reducing inherent risks to ICE officers, aliens and the community,” the agency noted in their press release regarding Rivera-Estrada’s arrest.
Per the agency press release, Rivera-Estrada had entered the United States via the Nogales port of entry lawfully back in February of 2009 under a nonimmigrant border-crossing authorization which granted a stay of up to 30 days within the country. Yet, according to officials, Rivera-Estrada remained in the United States well beyond the 30 day allotment in violation of immigration law.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Phoenix Deputy Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida issued a statement in tandem with the press release regarding Rivera-Estrada, emphasizing the importance of the partnerships the agency maintains with local jails to help facilitate custodial transfers.
“The identification and arrest of Brenda Liliana Rivera-Estrada by ICE underscores the importance of the Criminal Alien Program and highlights the public safety efforts undertaken by officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations,” Deputy Director Almeida stated.
Rivera-Estrada will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of her removal proceedings.
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