This incident also illustrates that terrorism is not the only issue to debate when discussing illegal immigration…
A man from Mexico—Juan Jesus Castillo-Reyes— has been charged in the death of an Airman stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia. Reyes, who does not have a driver’s license, was operating a pickup up truck when he slammed into the back of a car driven by Air Force Staff Sgt. Alexander Wayne Earles at an incredibly high rate of speed. Earles was killed and Reyes has been charged with homicide by vehicle in the second degree, driving while unlicensed, improper lane change, and driving too fast for conditions.
In addition to not having a license and driving recklessly, the pickup truck Reyes was operating was also pulling a trailer. The vehicle belonging to Staff Sgt. Earles was hit so violently that it was compacted down to half of its original size. In fact, upon impact with Staff Sgt. Earles, the pickup truck Reyes was driving went airborne.
The Air Force released a heartbreaking statement, praising Staff Sgt. Earles for his honorable service and outstanding leadership. This tragic and senseless act affects not only the family of the victim, but those he served alongside. It’s always sad when a service member loses his or her life while “safely” on American soil. Maybe as a veteran, it has hit me a little harder than some. I’m sure it has also affected many service members and veterans alike because this tragedy was avoidable. Staff Sgt. Earles was not participating in a combat operation, he was carrying on his normal business in his home country.
President Donald Trump continues to demand the protection of citizens of the United States against those who remain in this country illegally. While there are those who argue that crimes committed by illegal immigrants are not significant enough to act upon, President Trump has not placed a number on how many American lives it should take to make changes to the status quo.
This incident also illustrates that terrorism is not the only issue to debate when discussing illegal immigration. It was Juan Jesus Castillo-Reyes blatant disregard for our nation’s immigration and motor vehicle regulations that killed Sgt Earles. Reyes is currently being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who has launched an investigation into whether he is in the United States illegally. If found that Reyes is indeed an illegal immigrant, he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The United States has lost one of its finest warriors because of this man.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
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