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A man accused of causing a fatal crash in Clark County, Illinois, has now been issued an immigration detainer, according to a spokesperson from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The collision resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left two others critically injured.
The Illinois State Police reported that Edwin Pacheco-Meza, 34, was driving east on West Lincoln Street near South Division Street in Westfield last Friday evening when he allegedly veered across the center line, colliding head-on with a truck. Tragically, a Coles County board member and his spouse were killed instantly in the crash. Two other passengers in the vehicle sustained life-threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital. Neither Pacheco-Meza nor his passenger suffered injuries.
Previously, WCIA had detailed the charges against Pacheco-Meza, which include reckless homicide and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence involving alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. In addition to these charges, authorities have now leveled three more against him.
- No valid license/ permit never issued
- Not driving on the right side of the road
- Failure to reduce speed
ICE has revealed that Pacheco-Meza was residing in the county illegally, identifying him as a native of Honduras. The agency has issued an immigration detainer for Pacheco-Meza, which requests cooperation from law enforcement agencies to ensure he is not released from custody.
ICE said they issued an immigration detainer for Pacheco-Meza, which requests two things from law enforcement agencies:
- ICE is asking to be notified “as early has possible” if and when Pacheco-Meza is released.
- The detainer requests holding him for up to 48 hours beyond the time they would ordinarily release them. ICE said this would allow DHS time to assume custody.
During a detention hearing on Monday, Pacheco-Meza was denied pretrial release.
ICE added that Pacheco-Meza’s passenger was also living in the country illegally. The 18-year-old is reportedly from Guatemala and is now being processed to face immigration proceedings.
On Sunday, State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) released a statement regarding Friday night’s crash:
“The driver who hit Coles County Board member Mike Clayton and his wife Gail was in the U.S. ILLEGALLY. More lives lost because of failed leadership. Governor JB Pritzker’s reckless policies keep putting Illinois families at risk,” he wrote in a post on social media.
Previously, Illinois State Police told WCIA that Pacheco-Meza was living in Indianapolis.
State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) also shared a statement following the crash. Rose said Illinois’ laws protect people living in the country illegally over citizens.
“Worse yet, under Illinois’s idiotic laws that protect illegals and criminals over citizens – laws that Governor Pritzker refuses to fix – the Clark County Sheriff is not even allowed to enforce the ICE order to detain the suspect, Edwin O. Pacheco-Meza,” Rose said in a statement shared to his website. “It is also totally ridiculous that the Illinois State Police have apparently been ordered not to release the citizenship status of the suspect – hiding the basic details of this tragedy from the public at large.”
When asked to confirm if Pacheco-Meza was living in the United State legally, State Police said that they are prohibited from inquiring about or investigating the citizenship or immigration status of any individual in their custody, per the Illinois TRUST Act.
This crash follows a similar tragedy that took place in Urbana at the beginning of 2025. Julio Bol of Guatemala is accused of rear-ending a Honda Civic at University and Coler Avenues in Urbana. The crash ended the lives of 21-year-old Chloe Polzin from Deerfield and 20-year-old Katherine Abraham of Glenview. Three other passengers in the Honda Civic were hurt.
Recent immigration enforcement in Chicago — Operation Midway Blitz — is in honor of Katie, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said.
In a statement sent to WCIA on Tuesday, an ICE spokesperson said the agency is committing to remove people living in the United States illegally.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal aliens to walk freely on U.S. streets. ICE will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing alien offenders from the U.S.,” an ICE spokesperson said.
WCIA reached out to Governor JB Pritzker for more information, but did not immediately receive a response back.
