On Tuesday, federal immigration officials voiced strong criticism against California’s sanctuary laws following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The individual in question is accused of critically injuring a four-year-old boy in a hit-and-run accident.
Aman Kumar, an Indian national residing illegally in the United States, was detained by ICE on May 13. This arrest occurred after local authorities had previously released him from custody.
The Fresno Sheriff’s Department reported that Kumar was initially taken into custody last month, facing charges linked to a hit-and-run incident. He was formally charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in death or injury.
According to police reports, Kumar was allegedly behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck the young child in Fresno, California, a story first reported by KSEE.
The tragic event unfolded when the boy, who had been playing on a swing set in a nearby backyard, wandered through a gate and onto the road, as described by authorities.
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.
“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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