Federal authorities arrested an illegal immigrant accused of causing a fatal hit-and-run in Maryland while he was attempting to flee the country, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed. Josue David Carranza-Castellon, 26, allegedly struck and killed Brian Roy Longaberger, 56, at about 4:47 a.m. last Wednesday when his car veered off the road onto a grassy median in Gaithersburg, Maryland, before fleeing the scene.
Homeland Security Investigations agents located Carranza-Castellon the following day as he was boarding a plane bound for Honduras at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, DHS said. He is currently being held in Elizabeth, New Jersey, while awaiting extradition to Maryland. Carranza-Castellon faces charges of manslaughter by vehicle and failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Carranza-Castellon crossed the border illegally in 2016 as a teenager during what federal authorities described as an overwhelming influx of illegal border crossings. DHS records show he has a prior conviction for a fourth-degree sex offense and was previously arrested for lewd or lascivious acts with a minor. It remains unclear why Carranza-Castellon was not detained at the time of the crash given his criminal history.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative lawmakers say the case highlights what they describe as systemic failures in border security and deportation enforcement. They argue that Carranza-Castellon should have been removed years ago given his criminal record.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called the incident ``preventable'' in a post on social media, writing: "This illegal alien with priors was allowed to remain in our country for eight years after crossing illegally. The Biden-Harris administration's open-borders policies created this tragedy."
Acting Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis stated that DHS is ending Carranza-Castellon's ``crime spree'' in the United States. ``He will face consequences for his crimes and then be swiftly removed from our country so he cannot continue to terrorize American communities," she said.
Immigration hawks argue the case demonstrates why mandatory detention for criminal aliens and faster deportation proceedings are necessary. The Federation for American Immigration Reform said in a statement that ``catch-and-release must end" and called on Congress to fund additional detention space.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates argue this case underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform rather than punitive enforcement measures alone. Immigration rights groups note that the vast majority of undocumented immigrants commit no violent crimes and that focusing on individual incidents risks stigmatizing an entire community.
Senator Alex Padilla of California said in a statement that while any loss of life is tragic, "we cannot allow isolated incidents to drive policy decisions that affect millions of law-abiding immigrants who contribute to our communities." He called for investing in ``smart enforcement`` that prioritizes public safety over mass deportation.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association pointed to the case as evidence that immigration courts are overwhelmed and lack resources to properly vet cases. "When people fall through the cracks of a broken system, tragedies can occur," AILA President Jeremy McKinney said. The organization has long advocated for more funding for immigration judges and asylum officers.
What the Numbers Show
According to DHS data, Carranza-Castellon is among approximately 1.3 million non-citizens currently in the United States who have some form of criminal record, though not all convictions are violent offenses. The agency has removed or returned over 2.5 million immigration violators since 2021 under the current administration.
The Government Accountability Office reported in 2024 that state and local law enforcement agencies encounter roughly 13,000 individuals with pending deportation orders annually. Of those, about 8 percent are ultimately detained by ICE due to resource constraints.
Maryland State Police data shows hit-and-run fatalities account for approximately 18 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the state. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationwide, roughly one in five pedestrian deaths involves a driver who fled the scene.
The Bottom Line
Carranza-Castellon will face criminal charges in Maryland before any deportation proceedings resume. DHS officials have indicated he will be removed following adjudication of his case. His prior criminal history and how he remained free in the community despite outstanding immigration concerns are expected to be reviewed internally, according to a DHS spokesperson.
The case is likely to reignite debate over cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Maryland does not have statewide sanctuary policies, but Montgomery County, where Gaithersburg is located, has limited its cooperation with ICE detainers in certain circumstances. Longaberger's family has not publicly commented on the incident as of this reporting.