The tragic death of 8-year-old Mora Gerety in Boise, Idaho, has ignited a renewed debate over immigration policies. Elvin Elgardo Ramos-Caballero is accused of fatally striking Gerety with his pickup truck while making a turn at an intersection. Reports indicate that Ramos-Caballero had an outstanding federal warrant for failing to appear at an immigration hearing with ICE, and had previously been released into the country under the Obama administration. He was also issued a driver’s license by the state of Oregon.
The incident has drawn strong reactions, with officials like Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressing outrage over the circumstances surrounding Gerety’s death. She blamed open border policies and the issuing of a driver’s license to an undocumented immigrant, and highlighting the potential consequences of sanctuary policies. While the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is about 11 million in 2024, the debate regarding immigration and its impact on local communities continues to be a contentious issue across the nation.