Baby killed after illegal immigrant allegedly strikes family at grocery store parking lot
An illegal immigrant from Guatemala was charged with manslaughter after allegedly crashing into a mother and her two children, killing her 9-month-old son, in a New Jersey grocery store parking lot Friday, according to authorities.
A 9-month-old boy was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune after Maria Cobon-Guzman allegedly struck his mother and the baby carriage carrying him and his 5-year-old sister in the parking lot of a kosher grocery store in Jackson on Friday.
"An innocent baby would still be alive today had it not been for Joe Biden’s disastrous open border and reckless immigration policy that released countless illegal aliens into our country," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
"We are urging the Ocean County Jail to honor ICE’s detainers on these two criminal illegal aliens to take them out of American communities once and for all," the spokesperson said of the Republican-friendly county in the otherwise blue state.
All three victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The mother and her five-year-old child remained hospitalized in stable condition, while the 9-month-old boy died.
Another woman, Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, was also charged in the incident after she reportedly allowed Cobon-Guzman to drive her car knowing she was unlicensed. An inmate report listed Lazaro-Flores as charged with "endangering the welfare of an incompetent person."
Both women illegally entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, with Lazaro-Flores doing so five times in October 2023 and being removed each time, DHS told Fox News Digital.
"She last illegally entered the United States through the Biden Administration’s open border at an unknown place and time," the agency said.
ICE MAKES NATIONWIDE ARRESTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, MURDERERS, PEDOPHILES IN HOLIDAY BLITZ
Cobon-Guzman entered once but was released unvetted into the nation’s interior, DHS added. On July 31, an immigration judge issued an order of removal against her.
"New Jersey must honor ICE's detainers on these two criminal illegal aliens to take them out of American communities once and for all,"," the agency tweeted.
Democratic New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who signed legislation codifying New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive, had not commented as of Tuesday morning.
When reached for comment, a Sherrill spokesman directed Fox News Digital to Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. Davenport did not immediately respond.
Observers took notice of the relative silence as Sherrill's social media posts about other things including a critique of President Donald Trump's battle with Iran sparked outrage:
"How about sticking to doing something about the highest property taxes in the US [or] stopping illegals from killing and maiming us?" read one response.
"Any comment yet? Hello?" another said.
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
The Trust Directive, as drafted by Davenport predecessor Gurbir Grewal, limits voluntary assistance New Jersey law enforcement may provide DHS.
New Jersey Republicans fired back at Trenton leadership, suggesting they created the conditions to allow the tragedy to occur.
"An innocent baby is dead. A mother and another child were seriously injured. Now, ICE is seeking custody of the two women charged in connection with the crash," the state party said in a statement.
"This should not be complicated: New Jersey must comply with ICE detainers. Governor Sherrill has a responsibility to put the safety of New Jersey families ahead of sanctuary policies. When federal immigration authorities seek custody of individuals charged with serious crimes, the state should cooperate — not stand in the way."