Illegal immigrant driver charged with DUI after car veers off road, kills two children on bikes: police
Key Takeaways
- Eri Otoniel Roblero-Perez has been charged with two counts of felony DUI resulting in death after a vehicle he was driving struck and killed two boys in Spartanburg County, S.C.
- He was denied bond and an immigration detainer has been placed by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), it has been reported that.
- Prosecutors say he showed signs of intoxication and was unable to complete sobriety tests; another passenger allegedly fled the scene and has not been located.
- The crash has prompted local grief and national political reaction, with officials linking the case to broader immigration and border policy debates.
Crash and charges
Authorities say the crash occurred around 12:20 p.m. Sunday on Asheville Highway near Brock Street, about three miles west of Spartanburg, when a 2016 Honda Accord allegedly left the roadway and struck two boys who were riding bicycles on a sidewalk. The victims were identified as 12-year-old Dereon James Robins and 9-year-old Mikhail-Lee Smith; both later died from their injuries. Prosecutors allege the driver, Eri Otoniel Roblero-Perez, displayed signs of intoxication — slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol — and was unable to complete field sobriety tests. He faces multiple state charges including two counts of felony DUI resulting in death, driving without a license and open container; he was denied bond and is being held in the Spartanburg County Detention Facility.
Immigration detainer and legal process
Local authorities confirmed Roblero-Perez is in the United States without legal status and, it has been reported that, a detainer from ICE was placed. An ICE detainer is a request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to a local jail to hold a person for a short period so federal immigration authorities can assume custody and potentially initiate removal (deportation) proceedings. Criminal proceedings and immigration enforcement are separate: the state will pursue the felony DUI case, where denial of bond keeps the defendant in custody while prosecutors build their case, and immigration authorities may pursue civil removal based on criminal convictions or other factors. DUI stands for driving under the influence; a felony DUI resulting in death is among criminal charges that can trigger immigration consequences for noncitizens.
Community impact and policy fallout
The crash has devastated the families and the Spartanburg community. Family members testified at a bond hearing and pleaded for the defendant to remain jailed; online and local outrage has followed, it has been reported that. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina issued a statement tying the tragedy to border policy, illustrating how individual criminal cases can quickly become part of broader political debates over immigration enforcement. For immigrants and visa holders, the case underscores a critical reality: alleged criminal conduct can lead to parallel state prosecution and civil immigration action, and an ICE detainer may limit pretrial release even if a judge would otherwise grant bond. Anyone facing similar circumstances should seek counsel experienced in both criminal defense and immigration law, because outcomes in one system can dramatically affect the other.
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