According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a suspect charged with DUI manslaughter in the heartbreaking case of a 16-year-old’s death in Mobile, Alabama, is residing in the United States unlawfully.
ICE reported that they have lodged an immigration detainer against Franklin Oriel Fajardo-Arana. He has been identified by the agency as “an illegal alien from Honduras” following his detention by Mobile Police earlier this week.
Scott Ladwig, the acting ICE New Orleans Field Office Director, stated, “ICE is steadfast in its mission to prioritize the arrest and deportation of illegal aliens who jeopardize public safety. This incident highlights the essential role of ICE’s collaboration with local law enforcement to pinpoint and expel those who contravene our immigration laws and threaten our communities.”
ICE detailed that Mobile police were called to the scene of a car crash on Sunday, which involved a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota 4Runner.
Following his arrest this week in Mobile, Alabama, ICE has issued an immigration detainer for Franklin Oriel Fajardo-Arana. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images; ICE)
ICE explained, “The 4Runner was found overturned, and tragically, a teenage boy—a passenger in the vehicle—was declared dead at the scene. On the same day, ERO New Orleans issued an immigration detainer to Mobile County Metro Jail, ensuring that Fajardo-Arana will be transferred into ICE custody upon his release.”
“An investigation revealed that the Fairfield Police Department in Kentucky has an active in-state warrant for Fajardo-Arana for a separate DUI offense,” the agency added.
Security measures are taken as tensions rise over prolonged protests targeting federal ICE operations near an ICE facility in Broadview, Ill., on Oct. 10, 2025. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Mobile Police Department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Fajardo-Arana has been charged with DUI manslaughter, according to ICE.
Ernest Williams, a local barber and witness to the crash, told WALA that he “was just standing outside talking with the other barbers” and “then we heard the crash” and “everything changed in that instant.”
“We instantly ran over there to see what was going on,” he said to the station. “We got the driver out and pushed the vehicle up to get the victim from under it.”
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attends a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 26, 2025. ( Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Now that I know he passed away, it kind of makes it seem like you didn’t do enough,” Williams added in reference to the victim. “But we were just there to help however we could.”
