In a tragic incident on November 11 in Boise, Idaho, an 8‑year-old girl named Mora Gerety was killed after being struck by a pickup truck driven by Elvin Elgardo Ramos‑Caballero, who is an undocumented immigrant. According to reports, Ramos‑Caballero was driving legally at the time of the crash, thanks to a driver’s license issued by the sanctuary state of Oregon.
Ramos‑Caballero had a long-standing immigration issue: he was previously ordered deported in 2019 after failing to attend a hearing, but remained in the country. ICE later arrested him following the fatal collision.
The case has stirred fierce criticism from immigration opponents. Rep. Byron Donalds (R‑Fla.) condemned sanctuary‑state licensing policies, arguing they pose a serious public safety risk. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin also issued an emotional statement, calling Gerety’s death a heartbreaking result of “decades of open border policies.”
Donalds is pushing for legislative change through the WEIGH Act, a bill that would give the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Treasury greater power to penalize states that issue commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants — including the possibility of withholding federal funds.
The fatal crash and the broader policy debate highlight the ongoing tension between sanctuary-state policies and national immigration enforcement — raising tough questions about how to balance public safety, state rights, and immigration policy reform.
