Trump administration pounces on undocumented immigrant's vehicular homicide charge

Politico

06-08-2025

Good Wednesday morning!
Late last week, Raul Luna-Perez, an undocumented immigrant with two recent arrests for DUI and one 2023 arrest for domestic violence, allegedly drove drunk and slammed his car into one driven by Maria Santos Pleitez, killing her and her 11-year-old daughter and seriously injuring another daughter.
The Trump administration jumped on it. On Saturday, ICE announced an arrest detainer and began initiating removal proceedings. Luna-Perez had been arrested for DUI in March and April and in 2023 was arrested on domestic violence charges, according to ICE. 'Thanks to New Jersey Governor Murphy's sanctuary policies, he was released into American communities. He entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location,' read an ICE press release.
This puts a heart-wrenching case involving immigration in the headlines in the middle of New Jersey's race for governor, so this probably won't be the last of it. And if the feds were looking for strong pushback from Gov. Phil Murphy on this, they didn't get it.
'The Governor believes that Mr. Luna-Perez, who had been arrested multiple times for DUI and domestic violence, should not have been allowed behind the wheel and should have already been deported due to his dangerous criminal activity,' Murphy spokesperson Mahen Gunartana wrote.
In a statement, Attorney General Matt Platkin said 'over the objection of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the court chose to release Mr. Luna-Perez.'
'To be clear, nothing in the Immigrant Trust Directive would have prevented New Jersey Law Jersey law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials to deport this defendant.,' Platkin said. 'And we reiterate that the Immigrant Trust Directive allows for cooperation with ICE in regard to anyone charged with a violent crime or convicted of any indictable offense.' (I'm not quite clear on whether the judge released Luna-Perez after the vehicular homicide charge).
The Immigrant Trust Directive — the policy enacted during Murphy's first term that governs how law enforcement cooperates with ICE — widely restricts enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law, but it allows cooperation for serious crimes. So my question was whether Luna-Perez's arrests before the vehicular homicide charge qualify for this exception.
For one of them, I think so. Though Luna-Perez's charge of simple assault domestic violence wasn't a felony, from my reading of the directive, any domestic violence charge is considered a 'violent or serious' under the directive and allows police to question the suspect about their immigration status and notify the feds. Why that didn't happen — if indeed it didn't — I'm not sure. (I'm told that charge had been expunged).
Platkin in his statement said the directive ensures 'that victims and witnesses can safely come forward to report crimes regardless of their immigration status' and that it 'has improved law enforcement's ability to keep our communities safe with record low reductions in shootings and other violent crimes.' But measuring the directive's effectiveness is particularly difficult, while individual crimes like this stare you right in the face.
FEEDBACK? Reach me at [e-mail]
SHOW ME THE WAY: Acting Gov. Way has no public schedule
QUOTE OF THE DAY:"I'm not a political hack. I'm an attorney licensed in four states. I've been licensed by the Supreme Court of the United States, and I have practiced law for the better of 20 years, and run law firms for most of 15 that [have] been extremely successful despite what the Twitter trolls would like to say.' — Acting (?) U.S. Attorney Alina Habba responding to criticism by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Richard Babcock
WHAT TRENTON MADE
WE'RE JUST BREAKING BLS — 'Jobs numbers become latest Trump battleground,' by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: 'The latest monthly jobs report released by New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development showed the state unemployment rate ticked up to 4.9% in June, coinciding with a loss of nearly 10,000 jobs. The same report, based on federal jobs data, announced a revision to the prior month's employment estimate, reflecting a further loss of jobs in New Jersey from April to May compared to what was originally reported. Buried in these monthly reports are technical notes that explain how the jobs data is collected — and why such revisions are commonplace as part of the ongoing quest to get an accurate view of the current job market. … The collection and dissemination of such data by the federal government has occurred for decades in the U.S., according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, using estimates derived from both household and employer surveys. … However, the jobs reports themselves are often easy targets for politicians, including those who may be feeling the heat whenever a new monthly report's initial snapshot gives reason to believe the economy is slumping. Last week President Donald Trump publicly criticized the July jobs report, which indicated both an increase in the nation's unemployment rate and a major downward revision of prior monthly jobs totals.'
—'Punk rock brought together veterinarian and firefighter. An ex-boyfriend cop took their lives'
TRUMP ERA
NO SANCTS — 'Feds trim list of places they're fighting over immigration enforcement,' by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: 'Federal officials on Tuesday released a revised list of states, cities, and municipalities with policies meant to restrict immigration enforcement, and Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken made the list. A longer list that the U.S. Department of Justice issued in May left some observers baffled about some of the Republican-led and -leaning jurisdictions included, such as Cumberland and Warren counties. So the feds retracted and revised it, and now, no New Jersey counties are on the list. Even New Jersey itself isn't among the 12 states (plus the District of Columbia) that the feds have labeled as sanctuary states — even though Alina Habba, New Jersey's acting U.S. attorney, vowed in April to investigate Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin over the Immigrant Trust Directive, a state order that restricts when state and local police officers can cooperate with federal immigration agents.'
I NEVER THOUGHT THE LEOPARDS WOULD EAT MY COASTLINE — 'Jersey Shore would be mostly gone without beach replenishment. But at what cost?' by The Asbury Park Press' Amanda Oglesby and Dan Radel: 'More than $3.4 billion of local, state and federal tax dollars have been spent trying to stabilize the New Jersey coast, all while the Atlantic Ocean works to move the sand out from under the feet of its residents. … Without millions of dollars spent each year, the barrier islands — which drive billions in tourism dollars and fund much of the economy of eastern New Jersey — would be destroyed with the push and pull of coastal currents. But now the projects that protect the coast from potentially catastrophic erosion are in danger, according to some state officials. New Jersey normally receives up to $200 million in federal dollars each year for beach replenishment, but a new bill in Congress will provide only a fraction of that money this year, said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., a strong champion in New Jersey of the beach replenishment efforts. This is the first time in nearly three decades that so little money has been given to New Jersey's beach replenishment projects, Palone said. 'House Republicans are pulling the sand out from under us,' he said in a statement.'
—'Do Jersey Shore beach replenishment projects help or harm sea life? Experts weigh in'
—'LBI group asks Trump administration to cancel approvals for Atlantic Shores offshore wind project'
—'How Booker and Kim differ on arms sales to Israel'
—'NJ nonprofits step in after 988 LGBTQ+ option is canceled'
LOCAL
R.I.P. — 'Atlantic County Commissioner Ernest Coursey dies at 62 after battle with colon cancer,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Nicholas Huba: 'Atlantic County Commissioner Ernest Coursey has died, according to a statement from the county's Democratic organization. He was 62. 'I am terribly saddened by the passing of my friend Ernest Coursey. Ernest had a gifted political mind and a solid pragmatism to him that made him an effective public servant. He exemplified Otto von Bismarck's maxim that 'politics is the art of the possible.' ….' Chairman Michael Suleiman said in a statement. Coursey was a tireless advocate for Atlantic County and was most recently responsible for facilitating discussions to settle the county's lawsuit against the state over distribution of the casinos' payment-in-lieu-of-taxes funds, County Executive Dennis Levinson said … The county Board of Commissioners' meeting scheduled for Tuesday was canceled in light of Coursey's death.'
OFFICIAL PROVES HE HAS PULL IN CITY HALL — 'Paterson councilman charged with allegedly pulling City Hall fire alarm,' by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'Councilman Luis Velez — who says he is running for mayor next year — was arrested by the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office on Aug. 5 and charged with a third-degree crime for allegedly pulling a City Hall fire alarm, officials said. The incident, which was captured on poorly lit security camera footage, took place in September 2024. A report written a day later by Mayor Andre Sayegh's City Hall security director, Hector Nieves, said the fire alarm activation seemed accidental with no sign of 'intentional tampering.' But the prosecutor's press release issued on Aug. 5 said there was sufficient evidence to charge the councilman with a crime. 'In that video, Councilman Velez can be seen touching the fire alarm box with his hand until the fire alarm is set off,' said the prosecutor's office. 'There was no fire or emergency at City Hall, which had to be evacuated.''
PRECIOUS MUNICIPAL BODY FLUIDS — 'NJ builder tells judge town should reserve 'precious water' for affordable housing,' by The Record's Philip DeVencentis: 'WAYNE — A developer that wants to build hundreds of apartments on Hamburg Turnpike has lodged a new petition in state court, asking a judge to order the township to save its 'precious water resources' for the construction of affordable housing. The local builder, a limited liability company tied to March Associates Construction Inc., asked the court to block the township from allowing connections to its water system, except under extraordinary circumstances, and to appoint a special master to prioritize water use. Judge Darren Del Sardo, sitting in state Superior Court in Paterson, is due to rule on the July 31 motion by the end of August. The water shortage is an ongoing problem that officials have acknowledged.'
IF ONLY THERE WERE SOME LOCAL CHURCHES SEEKING TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS — 'Toms River votes to ban homeless people from parking garage, threatens jail and fines,' by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: 'A newly adopted ordinance would ban people from seeking shelter in the township's municipal parking garage, a site where a large group of homeless people were staying earlier this summer. The measure would restrict access to the parking garage behind town hall to those parking vehicles to visit downtown offices and businesses, including town hall and the Ocean County Library. It would impose fines of up to $2,000, and up to 90 days in jail, to anyone camping out in the parking garage, or storing belongings there; it would also cite any organization that assists individuals in the parking facility by dropping off supplies there. Those who violate the ordinance would be given 24 hours warning before any fines are issued. The measure has been panned by advocates, who say the township should be working with the county to find solutions for a growing homeless population.'
CRONE TO HIRE SHERLOCK HOLMES — 'Former Camden GOP chair fined for not answering subpoena in Moriarty lawsuit,' by New Jersey Globe's Zach Blackburn: 'A judge has ordered the Camden County GOP's former chairman to pay nearly $1,000 after failing to comply with a subpoena in a libel lawsuit that state Sen. Paul Moriarty (D-Washington) leveled against the county party last year. Moriarty sued the Camden GOP and its previous chairman, Thomas Crone Jr., for defamation over a mailer distributed in the days leading up to the Democrat's election to the state Senate in 2023. The mailer allegedly called Moriarty a 'drunk driver,' an apparent reference to an unlawful DWI arrest in 2012 that led to the firing of a Washington Township police officer and a $50,000 settlement. The Camden GOP, now chaired by Kimberley Stuart, denied distributing the mailer in a legal filing. Crone, however, failed to comply with a subpoena that asked for his testimony and relevant documents. Late last week, Superior Court Judge Steven Polansky ordered Crone to pay $934 in attorney fees for his 'previous failure to comply' with the subpoena and demanded he appear for a deposition next Tuesday'
TRENTON — 'State voided Trenton Water Works tests, levied $235K fine,' by The Jersey Vindicator's Jeff Pillets: 'Critical failures and fraud that surfaced last fall and winter at the beleaguered Trenton Water Works were deeper and more potentially harmful to water quality than previously known, according to documents released by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Last November, the utility that serves more than 200,000 Mercer County area residents announced that a worker was caught allegedly filing fake reports over a 13-month period from October 2022 through December 2023.'
THE SMALL ONE — '2.7 earthquake hits N.J. days after 3.0 quake struck Bergen County,' by CBS New York's Jesse Zanger: ' A 2.7 earthquake shook near Hillsdale, N.J., Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It happened shortly after 12 p.m. The earthquake hit about 7.7 miles deep about 1.25 miles southwest of Hillsdale, according to the USGS. CBS News New York's Nick Caloway reported the ground rumbled in Ridgewood for about five seconds, then stopped. … No damage was immediately reported … Tuesday's incident comes on the heels of a 3.0-magnitude earthquake in Bergen County's Hasbrouck Heights Saturday night that rattled parts of New Jersey and New York.'
—'Newark school board to pay $200K to settle legal claim filed by ex-school board member's daughter'
—'Cyberattack caused [Cresskill] to misdirect tax payments, lawsuit says'
—McDonald: 'Clever delay by Jersey City may allow it to escape public scrutiny over cop's outrageous conduct'
—'Trying to be the life of the party: Sherrill and Ciattarelli contend with unpopular Dems and GOP'
—'Once called 'a rising star,' North Bergen PD det. arrested in North Hudson drug ring'
EVERYTHING ELSE
AMERICAN REALITY — 'NJ tax judge cuts American Dream assessed value, affecting bondholder payments,' by The Record's Daniel Munoz: 'A New Jersey tax judge has approved American Dream mall's assessed value cut by $850 million, handing a win to the mall's owners, Canadian developer Triple Five. The decision by New Jersey Tax Court Judge Michael Gilmore on the 3.5 million-square-foot megamall and entertainment complex, issued July 31, means American Dream will have an assessed value of $1.65 billion rather than $2.5 billion. The ruling means the holders of $800 million in tax-exempt bonds that helped finance the mall will receive lower payments. … [S]nce the mall sits on tax-exempt, state-owned land, East Rutherford receives payments in lieu of taxes rather than property tax payments. The borough's property tax assessment contained 'fundamental flaws and errors' that 'improperly add several hundreds of millions of dollars to the valuation' of the American Dream mall, argued Romal Bullock, an attorney representing the mall, in a May court filing. The July 31 decision comes two months after the assessed property value of American Dream dropped by $800 million over concerns about the vacancy rate at the mall, which has struggled to generate the revenue promised years ago.'
FOR PETE'S SAKE — 'Ex-Hoboken mayor gets his N.Y. law license back,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'A former Hoboken mayor who was arrested three weeks after taking office for accepting a bribe has paid his debt to society and now has his law license back. Peter Cammarano spent two years in a federal prison for taking $25,000 in cash from government informant Solomon Dwek on July 23, 2009, as part of Operation Bid Rig, a massive FBI corruption probe that involved political corruption, money laundering, and even the illegal trafficking of human organs. Cammarano resigned 23 days into his term. As a result of the conviction, Cammarano was disbarred in New Jersey and New York. A panel of New York judges approved Cammarano's application last week, finding that he has revealed 'genuine remorse for his conduct.''
—'Construction begins on first-of-its-kind N.J. apartment complex for adults with autism'
—'N.J. man sues sushi chain, claims $100K investment led to raw deal'