In North Carolina, a fatal DUI accident involving an illegal immigrant has sparked a fresh wave of discussion around immigration enforcement policies. The tragic crash, which claimed the lives of a cherished college soccer player and his girlfriend, is under scrutiny due to the driver’s previous legal history, according to court documents.

These documents reveal that Juan Alvarado Aguilar, aged 37, had been charged with driving while impaired in Cabarrus County back in November 2020. However, the charge was dismissed with leave by the district attorney. This legal maneuver, specific to North Carolina, effectively removes a case from the court docket without completely closing it, offering prosecutors the option to reinstate the charge under certain conditions.

The unresolved nature of Aguilar’s previous DWI charge has come under intense examination following the recent crash that led to the deaths of 20-year-old Fletcher Harris and 19-year-old Skylar Provenza. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that the incident occurred late on a Friday night when Aguilar’s vehicle veered across the center line and collided head-on with another car on Amity Hill Road.

Aguilar, identified by the police as the driver of the Chevrolet Silverado involved in the deadly DUI crash, has been captured in a booking photo released by authorities. This tragic event, highlighted by Aguilar’s past legal troubles, is fueling an ongoing debate regarding the adequacy of the immigration enforcement system.

Juan Alvarado Aguilar is shown in a booking photo released by authorities. Police said Aguilar, 37, was identified as the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado involved in a DUI crash that killed two people. (Rowan County Sheriff’s Office)

Aguilar appeared in court Tuesday with the assistance of a Spanish translator and faces two counts of felony death by vehicle and one count of driving while impaired in connection with the Jan. 16 crash, according to WCNC.

Prosecutors requested Aguilar’s bond be increased from an initial $250,000 to $2 million, citing his criminal history and concerns he could flee. The judge exceeded that request, setting bond at more than $5 million.

“I’m very concerned about his appearance in court and the facts of this case,” the judge said before issuing the bond decision, WCNC reported.

Fletcher Harris and Skylar Provenza are shown in an undated photo. The two were killed in a DUI crash, according to authorities.  (Instagram/ skylar_provenza)

Prosecutors told the court that a state trooper noted the odor of alcohol at the scene was so strong it overwhelmed other smells, including burnt rubber and oil. Aguilar admitted he was the driver and that no one else was inside his vehicle, according to court testimony.

Troopers also testified that Aguilar was stumbling at the scene and fell into a trooper as he was walking to a patrol car before being handcuffed. He later complained of back pain and was taken to a hospital, where his blood was drawn as part of the investigation, prosecutors said.

During the hearing, prosecutors revealed Aguilar has two prior failures to appear in court and a previous DWI charge on his record. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer has also been placed on him, according to WCNC, with prosecutors arguing he posed a significant flight risk.

Fletcher Harris and Skylar Provenza are shown in a photo taken before their deaths. The two were killed in a DUI crash, according to authorities. (Instagram/ skylar_provenza)

Jail records show Aguilar is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center with his next court appearance scheduled for March 2.

Harris was a member of the Catawba College men’s soccer program for three seasons and was pursuing a double major in environmental and sustainability studies and biology, according to the school. The college said Harris was consistently recognized on the presidential honor roll and the dean’s list.

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall said the case underscores what he described as the deadly consequences of weak immigration enforcement.

In a statement, Hall blamed federal border policies for the deaths, saying, “The lives of Fletcher Harris and Skylar Provenza were senselessly taken by an illegal alien driving while impaired. He had no business being in our country and two more young lives have been stolen by open border policies.”

Republican Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina also weighed in on the case, blaming what he described as the state’s “sanctuary policies” for the deaths.

“Fletcher and Skylar are the latest victims of NC’s deadly sanctuary policies,” Harris wrote on X. “They were allegedly killed by an illegal alien with a prior DUI in a head-on crash. They should still be here—but radical pro-crime Democrats protect criminal aliens instead.”

The case has also renewed attention on federal legislation aimed at illegal immigrants convicted of serious impaired driving offenses.

Sen. John Cornyn’s proposed Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act would classify DUI or DWI offenses that result in death or serious bodily injury as aggravated felonies under federal immigration law, making offenders subject to removal and barring them from obtaining legal immigration status.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.