Exclusive: ICE steps in after illegal alien who killed college student gets 1 year in prison

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer against an illegal alien who killed a college student in a hit-and-run accident and received a light prison sentence, Blaze News has exclusively learned.

‘This monster should never have been in our country and has had a final order of removal since 2018.’

On April 2, Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, a 24-year-old illegal alien from El Salvador, was driving his pickup truck when he struck and killed Nathaniel Baker, a 21-year-old University of South Carolina student, who was riding his motorcycle in Richland County, South Carolina.

Fernandez-Cruz, who illegally entered the U.S. through the Mexico border in December 2016, fled the scene of the crash without attempting to administer aid.

Three of the four charges against Fernandez-Cruz were ultimately dropped, including failure to render aid, failure to yield right of way, and driving without a license.

He pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in death and was sentenced to just one year in prison. He was also given credit for 131 days of time served.

Fernandez-Cruz’s scheduled release is set for March 2026.

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Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

A Department of Homeland Security press release revealed that ICE has lodged a detainer against Fernandez-Cruz to ensure that he is deported following the completion of his prison sentence.

An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2018.

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Nathaniel Baker. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

“21-year-old USC student Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Baker was driving a motorcycle when he was hit by a truck driver who fled the scene,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated. “The hit-and-run driver, Rosali Isaac Fernandez-Cruz, was in our country illegally and received just one year in prison for taking Nate’s precious life. ICE lodged a detainer to ensure as soon as this killer completes his one-year prison sentence that ICE is notified to arrest him and get him OUT of our country.”

“Nathaniel was a 21-year-old college student with his whole life in front of him. This monster should never have been in our country and has had a final order of removal since 2018,” McLaughlin added.

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