Federal immigration authorities have expressed strong criticism of California’s sanctuary policies following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant accused of seriously injuring a 4-year-old boy in a hit-and-run incident.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Aman Kumar, an Indian citizen residing in the U.S. without legal permission, on May 13. Prior to this, he had been released from local law enforcement custody.
The Fresno Sheriff’s Department reported that Kumar was initially apprehended last month for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident. He faces charges of felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury.
Authorities stated that Kumar was behind the wheel of a vehicle that hit the young boy in Fresno, California, as reported by KSEE.
Federal officials confirmed that ICE agents took into custody an undocumented immigrant implicated in a California hit-and-run accident, which left a 4-year-old boy injured. (Frederic Brown/Getty Images)
The child had been playing on a swing set in a nearby backyard before leaving through a gate and entering the roadway, authorities said.
Investigators said several vehicles stopped after seeing the child in the street, but Kumar allegedly drove around the stopped traffic using the bike lane before hitting the boy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the child was hospitalized in critical but stable condition and is expected to survive.
Aman Kumar was arrested by ICE after authorities accused him of causing a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a 4-year-old boy in Fresno, California. (Department of Homeland Security)
DHS criticized California’s sanctuary policies after Kumar was later released from jail.
“This monster who almost killed a 4-year-old boy has been charged with a felony hit-and-run,” DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.Â
“Sanctuary politicians in California released this criminal illegal alien from jail back onto the streets,” she continued. “Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement, this criminal illegal alien was arrested outside a criminal court.”
The Department of Homeland Security called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to change the state’s sanctuary policies. (REUTERS/Fred Greaves)
According to DHS, Kumar illegally entered the United States in 2023 and was later released under the Biden administration.
The department also pointed to a letter ICE Director Todd Lyons sent in February to California Attorney General Rob Bonta urging the state to honor ICE detainers involving more than 33,000 undocumented immigrants in custody across California.
“DHS is calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and his fellow California sanctuary politicians to stop putting American lives at risk by releasing criminals into our communities to commit more crimes and hurt more innocent people,” Bis said.
DHS said California’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 4,561 undocumented immigrants with criminal charges or convictions since Jan. 20.
The department said those individuals were accused of crimes including homicide, assault, burglary, drug offenses, weapons offenses and sexual offenses.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
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