A 6-year-old girl is dead and her mother and sister were injured after authorities say a Mexican national who had been deported three times ran a stop sign in North Carolina's 1st congressional district last week. The crash, which occurred west of Vanceboro on Warren Jones Road near US-17, has become a central issue in one of the most competitive House races in the country.
Jaime Santiago Corona has been charged in connection with Calli Toler's death. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Corona was deported in 2019, 2023 and 2024 before re-entering illegally a fourth time. DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said Corona also has a criminal record that includes DUI charges. Authorities say he was driving on a revoked license at the time of the crash.
The incident has thrust immigration policy into the spotlight for NC-1, a sprawling district covering 25 counties in eastern North Carolina. The district consistently ranks among the nation's poorest by poverty rate and was once considered safely Democratic but now leans slightly Republican, making it a top target for both parties in upcoming elections.
What the Right Is Saying
Laurie Buckhout, a retired Iraq War battalion commander who served three tours in Iraq, called the crash an example of how the illegal immigration crisis has been hitting home in North Carolina. The Republican candidate seeking to unseat Davis said she supports President Donald Trump's America First agenda and mass deportation actions.
It has continued because under the Biden administration with Don Davis's oversight, you allowed so many illegals in the country and just a little bit ago, an illegal alien blew through a stop sign and killed a little girl, Buckhout said. If elected, she said she would push for higher pay for Border Patrol agents, improved technology at the Mexican border, funding for sensors and additional access roads to help secure the homeland.
The safety of the American people depends upon it. You don't have sovereignty without a border. I mean, that's just the bottom line, Buckhout added. She also pointed to two other cases involving illegal immigrants in the district: Jose Valdez-Masias arrested on homicide charges near Warrenton and Josue Cano-Landero charged with child fondling and strongarm rape in the Inner Banks.
What the Left Is Saying
Rep. Don Davis, a retired military officer who represents NC-1, said he supported the Laken Riley Act and that federal immigration laws must be enforced to ensure safe communities for Carolinians. A spokesperson for his campaign emphasized his record of delivering resources to Eastern North Carolina.
Laurie Buckhout seems to be increasingly bothered by the resources Congressman Davis continues to deliver for ENC, and was most recently perturbed by the fact that he is fighting for a local hospital to be reopened in Martin County, the spokesperson said. Congressman Davis will continue to do what he does best: fight for and be a voice for the people of Eastern North Carolina.
What the Numbers Show
According to DHS data cited by Assistant Secretary Bis, Corona was deported three times before allegedly re-entering the country a fourth time. He had prior DUI charges on his criminal record. The crash occurred just one mile from NC-1's district line near Vanceboro. NC-1 covers 25 counties in eastern North Carolina and has historically ranked among the nation's poorest congressional districts by poverty rate. The district shifted from Democrat-leaning to slightly Republican-leaning in recent election cycles, making the race between Davis and Buckhout a competitive contest.
The Bottom Line
The death of Calli Toler has transformed what is typically an economy-focused congressional race into a debate over border security and immigration enforcement. Both candidates have positioned themselves as supporting stronger immigration controls while arguing their opponent's record enabled the crisis. Pitt County authorities, who have custody of Corona, indicated they plan to cooperate with ICE. The race remains competitive heading into the next election cycle.