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Category: Immigration
March 31, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Somali Fraudster Handed Soft Sentence in Minnesota.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Abdul Abubakar Ali, involved in a $3 million taxpayer fraud tied to the Feeding Our Future scandal, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Abdul Abubakar Ali, Judge Nancy Brasel, defense attorney Kevin Gregorius, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Murphy, and others implicated in the Feeding Our Future scandal.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Sentencing occurred on Monday, March 31, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Your honor, I just want to say I’m sorry to everyone that my actions have hurt.” – Abdul Abubakar Ali

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights the largest pandemic-era fraud in Minnesota, undermining public trust in government programs and sparking outrage over the perceived leniency of the sentence.

IN FULL

Abdul Abubakar Ali, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of the Feeding Our Future scandal, has been sentenced to just one year and one day in federal prison. The case ranks among the biggest pandemic-related fraud operations in the country and involved diverting more than $3 million that was supposed to feed needy children. Ali admitted he used a nonprofit organization as a front to submit phony claims for 1.5 million meals that were never provided.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel—appointed by President Donald J. Trump during his first term—pointed to “aggravating factors” at Ali’s sentencing, including the damage to public trust in government assistance programs and Ali’s efforts to recruit others into the scheme. “This is part of a very large fraud scheme, the largest in the District of Minnesota and one of the largest ever in the country,” Brasel said—only to grant a relatively light sentence anyway.

Many people on social media reacted angrily to the sentence, calling it far too lenient. The Feeding Our Future operation stole hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money that had been allocated to feed poor children during the pandemic, with much of it spent on luxury items for the conspirators. So far, more than 60 people have been convicted in the scheme, many of them Somalis.

The scandal has drawn nationwide attention as the largest single fraud prosecution ever handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota.

Image by Katrin Bolovtsova.

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March 31, 2026
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

The Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments on Birthright Citizenship TOMORROW.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in what could become a landmark case, with President Donald J. Trump’s administration challenging the current interpretation of America’s birthright citizenship law derived from the 14th Amendment.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, President Trump, the children of illegal immigrants, the children of legal immigrants, and the lower federal courts.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Oral arguments will be heard on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: A number of legal experts have suggested the high court could settle on a compromise ruling that would end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants but keep it in place for the offspring of legal immigrants, based on the controversial “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause found in the 14th Amendment.

IN FULL

The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in what could become a landmark case with President Donald J. Trump‘s administration challenging the current interpretation of America’s birthright citizenship law derived from the 14th Amendment. Just days into his second term in the White House, President Trump issued an Executive Order ending birthright citizenship, the legal concept where anyone—no matter their immigration status—born on United States soil is granted American citizenship.

Shortly after being signed, Trump’s Executive Order was challenged in federal court, which resulted in a secondary case where the Supreme Court stepped in to limit the power of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions against executive branch policies. While not ruling on the merits of the birthright citizenship case at the time, the justices ruled that inferior federal courts could enjoin the executive branch—in most cases—only by establishing a class action lawsuit, not by issuing an injunction stemming from a single case.

In July, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Trump’s birthright citizenship order after a lower court upheld it. This ruling set the stage for the Supreme Court to give the issue some finality, announcing in December last year that it would hear the case at the start of April 2026.

At stake is a major loophole in U.S. immigration law, where even the children of illegal immigrants born on American soil become citizens—creating an anchor for the parents to dodge deportation and eventually become legal residents or citizens themselves. A number of legal experts have suggested the high court could settle on a compromise ruling that would end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants but keep it in place for the offspring of legal immigrants based on the controversial “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause found in the 14th Amendment.

Such a ruling would likely center on the idea that illegal immigrants—due to their unlawful entry status—are not “subject” to American “jurisdiction,” whereas legal immigrants—due to holding a visa or green card, etc.—are subject to American jurisdiction. This already comports with how the U.S. generally treats criminal illegal immigrants, preferring to deport them to their country of origin due to complications with legal jurisdictions and diplomatic agreements.

The National Pulse reported in early February that President Trump warned that a ruling against his Executive Order restricting birthright citizenship would only benefit China. His comments came after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Image by Billy Wilson.

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March 30, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Trump Admin Charges Nine in $1.1 Million Massachusetts Benefit Fraud Scheme.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nine individuals were charged in a federal crackdown on benefit fraud schemes exploiting stolen identities to steal from taxpayer-funded programs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The defendants include both U.S. citizens and illegal aliens, with charges involving multiple federal and state agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The charges were made over nine weeks in Massachusetts, and investigations into the fraud began in December 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The accused allegedly used stolen identities belonging to U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico to steal more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded programs.” – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

🎯IMPACT: The alleged fraud led to nearly $9 million in uncovered benefit fraud and significant financial losses to public assistance programs.

IN FULL

A coordinated federal crackdown in Massachusetts has resulted in charges against nine suspects for social welfare benefit fraud schemes exploiting stolen identities. The schemes targeted taxpayer-funded programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), MassHealth, and Social Security benefits. The investigation, ongoing since December 2025, uncovered nearly $9 million in fraudulent activity.

“We are working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and our other partners to identify, investigate, and to bring to justice those who perpetrate fraud against our taxpayer-funded benefit programs,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England, of the anti-fraud operation. He added, “We will continue every day in this fight until we bring those responsible to justice.”

Notably, the defendants, including illegal immigrants and U.S. citizens, used stolen identities primarily from U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico. These identities were utilized to obtain government-issued identification, including Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles-issued driver’s licenses and U.S. passports, which were then used to fraudulently access public benefits.

The charged individuals include Juan Felipe Chalas, Efrain Rivera, Danis Piron Lara, Erpawi Roque Collado, John Doe, a.k.a. Wilkin Emilio Pimental Pereyra, another unidentified John Doe, Mercedes Soto Capellan, Oscar Gonzalez Melo, and Cruz Augusta Pena Arias. Their charges range from aggravated identity theft to making false statements in passport applications.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the accused allegedly stole over $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded programs. The schemes resulted in approximately $943,197 in total losses to public assistance programs, including SNAP, MassHealth, and Social Security benefits.

The penalties for the charges include up to 20 years in prison for unlawfully obtaining SNAP benefits, mandatory consecutive sentences for aggravated identity theft, up to a five-year sentence for the misuse of a Social Security number, and 10 years for the theft of government property.

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March 30, 2026
Immigration

Trump Admin Resumes Asylum Processing After 5-Month Pause.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has lifted its total ban on reviewing asylum applications, though restrictions remain for around 40 countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The pause was implemented in November 2025 following a deadly attack on the National Guard in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national.

💬KEY QUOTE: “USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non-high-risk countries.” – DHS spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The move reallocates resources to focus on national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has moved to lift the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) hold on reviewing asylum applications, though the department stresses that restrictions continue to remain in place for around 40 countries of particular national security concern. In November last year, President Donald J. Trump directed DHS to impose a pause on processing asylum claims after an Afghan national shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., killing one.

At the time, then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem indicated the pause in reviews would be indefinite as the department worked through a backlog of nearly four million asylum cases. Importantly, the hold on reviews continues to apply to countries deemed “high risk,” including Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and multiple African nations.

“USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non-high-risk countries,” a DHS spokesman said on Monday, adding, “This move allows resources to focus on continued rigorous national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases.”

Importantly, other restrictions remain in effect, such as the pause on issuing immigrant visas to 75 countries and the halt of immigration applications from nations covered by President Trump’s travel ban. Late last year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began a re-review of foreign nationals granted refugee status by the former Biden government, applying more rigorous scrutiny to the applicants. A number of these individuals have subsequently been referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation.

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March 30, 2026
Bonkers Britain
Immigration

Migrant Households Are Claiming £1 Billion a MONTH in UK Welfare Benefits.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nearly £1 billion (~$1.3 billion) in welfare benefits is being claimed monthly by households with at least one foreign national in the United Kingdom, according to government data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Foreign nationals, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party government, Conservative (Tory) Member of Parliament (MP) Neil O’Brien, who secured the information, and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data from March 2022 to the present, across the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The growth of benefit spending and the rate of migration are both much too fast, and the Government is doing far too little to change either trend. Migrants know that if they can make it to the UK, they will be allowed to stay. As long as that is true, we’ll see more and more coming. Our soft-touch welfare state makes this worse.” – Neil O’Brien MP

🎯IMPACT: Welfare payments to foreign nationals have doubled in four years, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability and fairness to British citizens.

IN FULL

Foreign nationals are claiming close to £1 billion (~$1.3 billion) in welfare payments from the British government each month, according to the latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures. The data, released in response to Freedom of Information requests from Conservative (Tory) Member of Parliament (MP) Neil O’Brien, shows that households containing at least one foreign national received £941 million in Universal Credit payments this month.

Universal Credit, which supports low-income working-age families, is available to migrants who hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)—roughly equivalent to permanent residency in the U.S.—or refugee status. Over the last four years, the total value of claims from households with a migrant has more than doubled, climbing from £461 million in March 2019 to almost £1 billion now. The figure rose by nearly 30 per cent in the past 12 months alone.

Neil O’Brien criticized the trend, saying: “The growth of benefit spending and the rate of migration are both much too fast, and the Government is doing far too little to change either trend. Migrants know that if they can make it to the UK, they will be allowed to stay. As long as that is true, we’ll see more and more coming. Our soft-touch welfare state makes this worse.”

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has called for the complete abolition of Indefinite Leave to Remain as a way to reduce the financial strain of large-scale migration. Reform wants to restrict welfare benefits to British citizens only and replace Indefinite Leave to Remain with a five-year work visa system modelled on the American approach to long-term legal immigration.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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March 27, 2026
William Upton
Crime
Immigration

Vance Confirms Ilhan Omar is Being Investigated for Immigration Fraud.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed that the Trump administration and federal immigration agents are investigating Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over allegations of immigration fraud.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, along with Rep. Ilhan Omar, her brother Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, and her father Nur Omar Mohamed.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The remarks were made on March 27, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: Rep. Omar could potentially face denaturalization and deportation if evidence shows she committed immigration fraud by unlawfully marrying her brother to help him secure a green card, or that she lied on her own immigration paperwork regarding allegations her father participated in war crimes in Somalia.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the Trump administration and federal immigration agents are investigating Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over allegations of immigration fraud. Speaking with social media personality Benny Johnson, the Vice President said he has spoken with White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller on the matter, and that federal law enforcement believes the evidence of fraud is strong.

“We actually think that Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vance said. “I talked to Stephen Miller about this, actually, recently. We’re trying to look at what the remedies are, that’s the thing we’re trying to figure out.”

“What are the legal remedies now that we know that she’s committed immigration fraud? How do you go after her? How do you investigate her? How do you actually do the thing, how do you build the case necessary to get some justice for the American people?” Vance asked, while noting that Omar has also been connected to a number of members of Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community implicated in billions of dollars of social services fraud.


While Johnson focused on the widely discussed allegations that Omar—after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen—married her own brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, so that he could obtain a green card, there are lesser-known but more serious accusations that the Minnesota lawmaker committed fraud on her own immigration and subsequent citizenship applications.

Omar’s father is Nur Omar Mohamed, who served as a colonel in the Somali military under dictator and Marxist-Leninist junta leader, Major General Siad Barre. Ethnic minority groups in Somalia have accused Barre’s junta regime of genocide, and some have pointed to Nur Omar Mohamed as having participated in the ethnic cleansing of the Somali Isaaq clan. If conclusive evidence can show that Ilhan Omar’s father committed war crimes in Somalia and this was not disclosed on her immigration and citizenship paperwork, it could be grounds for denaturalization and deportation.

The National Pulse reported in January that the Trump administration filed to denaturalize Sead Miljkovic, a Bosnian and naturalized U.S. citizen, after it was discovered he lied about his identity when attaining U.S. citizenship in 2007. Federal attorneys with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Division contend that Miljkovic concealed an arrest warrant issued against him by a Bosnian court for war crimes against civilians when applying for U.S. citizenship. Additionally, the DOJ notes that he failed to disclose using multiple names, dates, and places of birth, and listed inconsistent information about his family when he initially immigrated to the U.S.

Image by Chad Davis.

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March 27, 2026
Immigration
Politics

Senate Passes Some Funding For DHS – But Not For Immigration Enforcement.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate passed a funding bill by voice vote to end a partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early Friday morning in the U.S. Senate.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We will be back in reconciliation where 50-plus-one votes are enough, and the filibuster cannot save you.” – Sen. Eric Schmitt

🎯IMPACT: The bill now heads to the House, where its fate remains uncertain, while Republicans plan to pursue funding for immigration agencies through reconciliation.

IN FULL

The U.S. Senate passed a funding bill by voice vote to effectively end the Senate Democrats’ partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) early Friday morning. The bill funds most of the department but excludes certain parts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and most of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), particularly Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the funding bill’s passage, stating, “It’s not the way to fund the department, but we are out of time for the critical responsibilities and tens of thousands of workers currently going without pay.” Thune emphasized that Democrats achieved none of the radical restrictions or pro-open borders policy changes they had demanded to reopen DHS.

The Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), had pushed for restrictions on federal immigration agents, citing recent fatal shootings of anti-ICE agitators. Schumer stated, “Democrats held firm in our opposition that Donald Trump’s rogue and deadly militia should not get more funding without serious reforms, and we will continue to fight for those reforms.”

Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump had intervened by proposing an Executive Order to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers during the shutdown. Following the Senate vote, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) sought unanimous consent for a separate measure to fund ICE and CBP, but Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) objected, citing the lack of inclusion of Democrats’ radical restrictions on federal immigration agents in the proposed funding.

Schmitt vowed to secure funding through a reconciliation bill, saying, “We will be back in reconciliation where 50-plus-one votes are enough and the filibuster cannot save you. We’ll be back to deliver the funding ICE needs, and we’ll be back to deliver the policy changes the American people are demanding.”

The DHS funding bill now moves to the House for consideration.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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March 26, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Transgender Illegal Immigrant Receives Just Six Months in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Schoolboy.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A transgender illegal migrant who admitted to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in New York received just a six-month prison sentence, sparking outrage over its leniency.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nicol Alexandra Contreras-Suarez, a 31-year-old transgender Colombian illegal immigrant, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the victim’s family.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assault occurred in February 2025 in East Harlem, New York, with the plea deal approved in March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I didn’t know you could get six months on this… It’s generally a minimum of two [years] and a maximum of seven, so I think something must be wrong here.” – Seth Zuckerman, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue the sentence undermines justice for child victims and sends a concerning message about accountability for serious crimes.

IN FULL

A lax sentence given to Nicol Alexandra Contreras-Suarez, a transgender illegal migrant from Colombia, is sparking outrage among New Yorkers. Contreras-Suarez was arrested last year for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in a bodega bathroom in New York City; however, he was just given a six-month term in prison after reaching a plea agreement with the Manhattan District Attorney‘s Office.

Seth Zuckerman, a former prosecutor in the Brooklyn DA’s Office and now a criminal defense lawyer, expressed disbelief at the outcome. “I didn’t know you could get six months on this,” he said, adding, “It’s generally a minimum of two [years] and a maximum of seven, so I think something must be wrong here.” Zuckerman noted that clients in similar cases typically do not receive such favorable deals.

The defendant, who has already served the six-month term while detained at Rikers Island since February 2025, was also wanted in New Jersey and Massachusetts for violent offenses and was subject to immigration enforcement detainers. Mark Bederow, a defense lawyer and former Manhattan prosecutor, described the sentence as “extraordinarily low” and highlighted that it deviates from standard sentencing guidelines.

The Manhattan DA’s office stated that the resolution was reached in consultation with the victim’s family to avoid the teenager testifying before a grand jury and during a trial. A spokesman added, “We expect the defendant to remain detained and be deported following sentencing, due to the felony conviction.”

Jennifer Harrison, founder of Victims Rights NY, condemned the plea deal, saying, “Let’s not pretend this sentence reflects real justice. It doesn’t. It sends a dangerous message that even the most horrific crimes against children won’t be met with the full weight of the law.”

The National Pulse reported in August 2025 that Contreras-Suarez had entered the United States illegally in March 2023 but was subsequently paroled into the interior of the country by the former Biden government. After initially being apprehended at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California, Contreras-Suarez was released into the country. Following this release, authorities say he was involved in several criminal incidents in Medford, Massachusetts, where charges were filed for armed robbery, prostitution, and assault with a deadly weapon.

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March 26, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Charged with Violent Rape of 5-Year-Old.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant was arrested for the alleged rape of a five-year-old child in Long Island, New York.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Carlos Aguilar Reynoso, 27, of Guatemala, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged assault occurred in Long Island, New York, with Reynoso charged on March 23.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Carlos Aguilar Reynoso, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, was charged for raping a five-year-old child in New York. While local law enforcement processed DNA evidence and built their case, they contacted ICE to arrest this pedophile so he would not be released into our communities to prey on more innocent children,” said Acting Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

🎯IMPACT: Reynoso faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted and deportation, with his bail denied until further court proceedings.

IN FULL

Carlos Aguilar Reynoso, a 27-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala, has been ordered removed from the United States following his arrest for the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in Long Island, New York. Court documents detail that Reynoso forcibly penetrated the victim, leaving the young girl bloodied and requiring surgery to repair internal injuries.

Reynoso was charged on March 23 with predatory sexual assault against a child, sexual abuse, and other related offenses. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The attack reportedly occurred while Reynoso was babysitting the child. Upon returning home, the mother discovered her daughter bleeding and took her to a hospital, where a rape kit test linked Reynoso to the crime.

While awaiting DNA test results, Reynoso was initially set to be released under New York’s bail reform laws, which prevent prosecutors from requesting bail for certain offenses. Detectives issued a desk appearance ticket, enabling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take Reynoso into custody on February 2, 2026, while prosecutors built their case against him.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “Carlos Aguilar Reynoso, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, was charged for raping a five-year-old child in New York. While local law enforcement processed DNA evidence and built their case, they contacted ICE to arrest this pedophile so he would not be released into our communities to prey on more innocent children.”

An immigration judge ordered his removal on March 16. Reynoso remains in custody with bail denied and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

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March 26, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Fugitive Migrant Wanted for Deadly Hit-and-Run Entered U.S. Illegally at Least Twice.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Ecuadorian migrant accused of fatally hitting a pedestrian in a New Jersey hit-and-run is believed to have entered the U.S. illegally twice.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wilson “Adrian” Morocho-Necta, 33, is the suspect; the victim has been identified as 68-year-old Justo Pilco-Tenesaca of Morristown, New Jersey.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred near Sussex Avenue in Morristown, New Jersey, around 7 AM last Friday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are calling on the public to report any sightings of Wilson Adrian Morocho-Necta. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of this illegal alien, they should immediately contact ICE at 866-DHS-2-ICE.” – Acting Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis.

🎯IMPACT: The suspect remains at large, and law enforcement is urging public cooperation while navigating New Jersey’s restrictions on ICE collaboration.

IN FULL

Wilson “Adrian” Morocho-Necta, a 33-year-old Ecuadorian migrant, has been identified as the main suspect in a fatal hit-and-run that killed 68-year-old Justo Pilco-Tenesaca in Morristown, New Jersey. Authorities say the incident took place early Friday morning, when a work truck struck the victim. According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Morocho-Necta fled the scene on foot.

Federal officials say Morocho-Necta had previously entered the United States illegally twice, including once after being deported in 2019. He is now being sought by local police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive restricts local law enforcement from fully cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis urged the public to help locate him, stating, “This illegal alien is the lead suspect in a hit and run that killed Justo Pilco-Tenesaca and remains at large. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of this illegal alien, they should immediately contact ICE at 866-DHS-2-ICE.”

Morocho-Necta was last seen wearing a white hoodie and jeans and is believed to be in the Morristown area. The truck involved belonged to MC Home Improvements & Construction, whose owner, Eric Couper, said he was “friggin’ mortified” by the incident.

The suspect faces charges of second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and third-degree endangering an injured victim. Prosecutors said the case will proceed in line with state and federal laws.

The case has renewed debate over crimes involving migrants who have avoided immigration enforcement. In a separate case this year, an Ecuadorian national reportedly took refuge in a consulate to avoid deportation. In another incident, a migrant charged with child molestation was released in a sanctuary jurisdiction despite an immigration detainer.

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