Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and the Department of Homeland Security clashed online over the state’s protection of an illegal alien who killed an 11-year-old boy, with DHS posting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer rejected by the state.
ICE announced Tuesday that it lodged an immigration detainer with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office for 44-year-old criminal Mexican national Hector Balderas-Aheelor after he was arrested for a felony hit-and-run that killed 11-year-old Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz a day before Thanksgiving. The DHS’ press release said the arrest detainer would not be honored because California is a sanctuary state.
Newsom’s press office responded in a post calling the allegation a “complete lie.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Illegal Indian Trucker Accused Of Killing Two In Horrific Crash)
“As we have repeatedly said: The state coordinates with ICE on the deportation of convicted criminals. California honors federal criminal warrants. Nothing prohibits the federal government from doing its job in this case,” the post states.
Just over an hour later, DHS responded in a follow-up tweet claiming the governor’s office was “playing word games to keep an illegal alien murderer in America.”
“California REJECTED the ICE detainer for an illegal alien charged with killing an 11-year-old boy. Gavin Newsom says he’ll only cooperate with ICE if the criminal illegal alien is CONVICTED, meaning California will let him roam free even though he’s been arrested for FELONY hit-and-run,” the department wrote.
You’re playing word games to keep an illegal alien murderer in America. California REJECTED the ICE detainer for an illegal alien charged with killing an 11-year-old boy.
Gavin Newsom says he’ll only cooperate with ICE if the criminal illegal alien is CONVICTED, meaning… https://t.co/xCX3OoTXHX pic.twitter.com/3TslxjZADq
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 3, 2025
Along with its criticism, DHS included a cropped picture of an immigration detainer’s rejection on Sunday, with a note reading, “No qualifying criminal history, however current charge would qualify upon conviction with a new 1247 from ICE.”
When asked about the updated DHS post, including the detainer rejection, a Newsom spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the federal government was not prohibited from “doing its job” in holding the illegal immigrant responsible for the hit-and-run.
“This driver needs to be held responsible for the tragic hit and run. Nothing prohibits the federal government from doing its job in this case,” the spokesperson said. “Unlawfully returning to the United States after deportation is a federal criminal offense and California honors federal criminal warrants. The federal government admits a failure to apprehend the suspect when he unlawfully entered the U.S. California law does not prevent them from acting now.”
Before Balderas-Aheelor’s hit-and-run arrest, the criminal Mexican national had been deported from the United States four times, committing a felony when he illegally entered the country a fifth time, according to DHS.
According to local reports, law enforcement in the San Diego area responded to a call on Nov. 26 around 5 p.m. local time and located De Paz injured after he was struck by a vehicle. Officials said the driver fled after hitting the 11-year-old in the roadway in front of his home as he went into the street to retrieve a soccer ball.
De Paz was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on Thanksgiving morning, according to NBC7.
The DHS did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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