Two illegal immigrants are facing charges after a fatal DUI crash in Illinois killed county board member Michael Clayton and his wife, Gail Clayton. Edwin Pacheco-Meza, 34, was allegedly driving under the influence when the crash occurred, leading to the tragic incident in Westfield, Illinois. The vehicle Pacheco-Meza was driving contained ammunition, an extended magazine, drugs, and an open container of alcohol, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Juan Morales-Martinez, an 18-year-old passenger, was also arrested and charged with drug possession and weapons offenses.
The incident sparked a renewed debate over immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies, as Illinois’ laws prevented cooperation with federal authorities. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that the tragedy was preventable and called for stricter measures to target criminal illegal aliens. McLaughlin stated,