Phoenix, AZ — A Mexican national accused in a rollover crash that killed her 9-year-old daughter and injured three other children has been taken into federal immigration custody after local authorities released her without criminal charges, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Brenda Liliana Rivera-Estrada was transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations custody on April 16 following her arrest in connection with an April 12 crash that drew widespread attention across Arizona and beyond.
The collision claimed the life of Rivera-Estrada’s daughter, who was ejected from the vehicle during the rollover. Three other children suffered injuries, according to federal officials.
Police Suspected Impairment in Fatal Crash
ICE said law enforcement investigators suspected Rivera-Estrada was impaired at the time of the crash.
Authorities initially held her on a $100,000 bond while the case was reviewed.
However, according to ICE, the county attorney ultimately declined to file criminal charges, resulting in Rivera-Estrada’s release from local custody.
Federal immigration officers then assumed custody of her pursuant to an immigration detainer.
ICE Says Woman Overstayed Legal Entry
According to ICE, Rivera-Estrada entered the United States through Nogales, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2009, as a nonimmigrant border-crosser.
Federal officials said she was authorized to remain in the country for 30 days but stayed beyond that period, placing her in violation of U.S. immigration law.
ICE officers encountered Rivera-Estrada while she was being processed at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Intake, Transfer and Release facility.
The agency said officers routinely interview individuals booked into the facility through ICE’s Criminal Alien Program, which is designed to identify removable noncitizens and facilitate transfers into federal custody.
Key Points
• A 9-year-old girl died after being ejected during an Arizona rollover crash.
• ICE says the child’s mother, Brenda Liliana Rivera-Estrada, was suspected of impairment.
• Federal immigration officers took Rivera-Estrada into custody after local prosecutors declined to file charges.
ICE Highlights Criminal Alien Program
ICE officials said the arrest demonstrates the role of the agency’s Criminal Alien Program in identifying individuals who may be subject to removal proceedings.
ERO Phoenix Deputy Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida said the case will now move through the immigration court system.
“The identification and arrest of Brenda Liliana Rivera-Estrada by ICE underscores the importance of the Criminal Alien Program and highlights the public safety efforts undertaken by officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations,” Almeida said.
He added that immigration judges and any subsequent appeals process will determine whether Rivera-Estrada can remain in the United States.
Immigration Proceedings Now Underway
While ICE has taken Rivera-Estrada into custody, the agency noted that her immigration case will proceed through the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Authorities have not announced any new criminal charges related to the crash.
As of Friday, Rivera-Estrada remained in federal immigration custody while removal proceedings move forward. The fatal rollover crash and the death of her daughter continue to draw public attention as investigators review the circumstances surrounding the collision.