Reporter Claims Illegal Had ‘Largely Clean Driving Record,’ Seemingly Deletes Account After DHS Responds

New Jersey Monitor senior reporter Dana DiFilippo claimed an illegal immigrant had no significant driving offenses before his arrest for allegedly causing a fatal crash, according to a screenshot obtained by the Daily Caller.

Officials charged Raul Luna Perez, a Mexican national and illegal immigrant, with two counts each of vehicular homicide and assault in connection with a deadly crash that killed a New Jersey mother and her 11-year-old daughter and hospitalized another child, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced earlier in August. Luna-Perez allegedly drove under the influence on July 26 and crossed into opposing traffic, according to a New Jersey Monitor report. (RELATED: Judge Sentences Man Who Permanently Injured Motorcyclists After His 12th DUI Conviction, Officials Say)

DiFilippo referred to Raul Luna-Perez as an “undocumented immigrant” in a screenshot of a since-deleted X post obtained by the Daily Caller She suggested the accused was at “the center” of the ongoing clash between President Donald Trump and Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

DiFilippo claimed that Luna-Perez had a “largely clean driving record, despite prior DUI arrests,” according to the screenshot. Her account appears to have been deleted after DHS’ official account responded.

Deleted X post from journalist Dana DiFilippo. [Obtained by the Daily Caller]

“This is a clinically insane take. A largely clean driving record? This MONSTER had two prior DUIs before killing an innocent mother and her 11 year-old child. Another child was hospitalized,” the agency alleged in a post on X. (RELATED: Conservative Host Turns Tables On CNN Panelist Who Compares Illegal Immigration To Getting DUI)

“We look forward to a story about the innocent victims of G0vernor Murphy’s sanctuary policies,” the account continued.

This is a clinically insane take. A largely clean driving record? This MONSTER had two prior DUIs before killing an innocent mother and her 11 year-old child. Another child was hospitalized.⁰⁰We look forward to a story about the innocent victims of @GovMurphy’s sanctuary… https://t.co/xMmBiAb73q

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 14, 2025

Luna-Perez’s attorneys requested a delay of the detention hearing due to immigration-related concerns while appearing Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan in Ocean County, New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Monitor. The judge rescheduled the hearing for Monday afternoon. Under New Jersey’s bail reform law, prosecutors must convince a judge certain defendants represent a public risk to keep them in jail before trial.

Another judge released Luna-Perez on July 31 but placed him under home confinement while awaiting trial. Ocean County prosecutors then filed new charges against the accused and a second detention hearing was set. (RELATED: Trump Orders ‘New And Highly Accurate’ Census Not Counting Illegal Migrants)

Authorities arrested Luna-Perez for domestic violence in 2023 and two driving under the influence in 2025, according to DHS. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an arrest detainer and kicked off proceedings for deporting the alleged drunk driver.

The Daily Caller has reached out to Di Filippo for comment.