An undocumented immigrant implicated in the fatal hit-and-run of a University of South Carolina student is being detained without bail, according to jail records.

Rosali I. Fernandez Cruz, 24, is accused of striking and killing Nathaniel Baker, 21, in Columbia, South Carolina, on Tuesday. 

Baker was a junior at the University of South Carolina and is remembered fondly by his Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brothers.

“Yesterday, we faced the profound loss of not just a brother, but a guiding figure, an inspiration, and someone who truly exemplified the values of our fraternity,” shared the fraternity on Instagram. “Nate Baker illuminated our lives with joy and warmth. His legacy will be one of unwavering support and the positive impact he left on those who knew him. We will never forget his zeal, loyalty, and dedication to this brotherhood. We hope to honor his legacy by embracing kindness, unselfishness, and generosity, reflecting the qualities Nate embodied in his interactions with others.”

Fox News was informed by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source that Fernandez-Cruz was apprehended by Border Patrol in Hidalgo, Texas, on December 24, 2016.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem participates in an immigration operation in New York City. (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)

Nearly two years later, on Sept. 6, 2018, an immigration judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, ordered Fernandez-Cruz to be sent back to El Salvador. 

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said on X that the department is praying “for Nate’s family, friends, and loved ones and will work every day to protect innocent Americans like Nate.”

“Nate should be alive today,” she added.

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this post.