Federal immigration authorities have lodged a detainer against a Mexican national accused of causing a deadly drunk-driving crash that claimed the life of a 43-year-old Georgia mother and real estate agent.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued an immigration detainer for a man charged in a fatal Gwinnett County crash that left a local mother dead and sparked renewed attention on immigration enforcement policies.
According to ICE, Rodrigo Antonio Rodriguez Flores, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with DUI and vehicular homicide following a multivehicle crash that killed Alicia Thomas.
The detainer was issued on May 21 after Rodriguez Flores was taken into custody in connection with the collision.
Victim Remembered as Mother and Real Estate Professional
Authorities identified the victim as Alicia Thomas, 43, a Gwinnett County resident and mother of a 13-year-old child.
ICE officials said Thomas was killed approximately one mile from her home in the crash.
The agency described her as a well-known Atlanta-area real estate agent who had worked in the industry for nearly a decade.
“Alicia Thomas, the mother of a 13-year-old child, was just 43 years old when she was killed in this devastating crash just outside Atlanta, a mile from her home,” acting ICE Director David J. Venturella said in a statement.
ICE Issues Immigration Detainer
Rodriguez Flores is currently being held at the Gwinnett County Jail while criminal proceedings continue.
Federal authorities said they requested that local officials notify ICE before any release from custody so immigration authorities can assume custody if appropriate.
Unlike some jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, Gwinnett County honors ICE detainer requests, according to the agency.
ICE noted that Georgia law prohibits local governments from adopting sanctuary policies.
Criminal Case Continues
The underlying criminal case involving DUI and vehicular homicide charges remains pending in Georgia courts.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of the crash in the ICE statement.
As with all criminal defendants, Rodriguez Flores is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Federal Officials Highlight Public Safety Concerns
ICE used the case to emphasize its enforcement priorities involving noncitizens accused of serious crimes.
Venturella described the crash as a preventable tragedy and said federal authorities will continue seeking the removal of individuals found to be unlawfully present in the United States after they have completed the criminal justice process.
The investigation and prosecution remain ongoing.
Key Points
• ICE issued an immigration detainer for Rodrigo Antonio Rodriguez Flores after a fatal DUI crash in Gwinnett County.
• Authorities said 43-year-old Alicia Thomas, a mother and real estate agent, was killed in the collision.
• Rodriguez Flores remains in the Gwinnett County Jail facing vehicular homicide and DUI charges.