DANE COUNTY, WI – A Department of Homeland Security official laid into sanctuary policies that have infected the state of Wisconsin, pointing to the deaths of two teens in the state who were allegedly killed by an illegal alien drunk behind the wheel earlier in July, saying their deaths could’ve been prevented had such policies never came to fruition.
On July 20th, 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson and 19-year-old Brady Heiling were driving down I-90 in Dane County at approximately midnight when they collided with another vehicle reportedly driving in the wrong direction.
Helgeson was pronounced deceased shortly after the head-on collision, whereas the young girl’s boyfriend, Heiling, later succumbed to his injuries at an area hospital.
Police arrested a 30-year-old woman identified as Noelia Martinez, who is facing a litany of felony charges including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle after police say the woman was intoxicated at the time of the fatal crash.
Martinez, an illegal alien from Honduras, had a previous DUI conviction in November 2020 which dictated she have an ignition interlock device installed in her vehicle, which authorities claim Martinez did not have installed at the time of the incident.
The Wisconsin case caught the attention of DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who cited the matter as to why sanctuary policies upheld by progressive states and localities lead to deadly outcomes for American citizens. “Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them,” Secretary McLaughlin stated, emphasizing, “and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila - a criminal illegal alien from Honduras.”
Secretary McLaughlin said an immigration detainer for Martinez has been issued following the illegal alien’s arrest, further noting, “Unfortunately, this sanctuary jurisdiction has a history of not honoring ICE arrest detainers often leading to the release of murderers and other heinous criminals. Under Secretary Noem, these precious victims will not be forgotten, and we will fight for justice.”
According to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office inmate database, the county has already refused to honor the immigration detainer initiated on July 22nd, with the “Declined to Hold” disposition prominently visible on Martinez’s inmate profile under the listed detainer.
It’s unclear whether Martinez’s immigration status was of issue back during her 2020 conviction of drunk driving, but her current charges - which include knowingly operating a vehicle with a revoked license - suggests she may’ve had an active asylum claim or other form of residency which gave her the opportunity to have a license all those years back since Wisconsin doesn’t allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.
Bond for the illegal immigrant was set at $250,000 per case, which if secured by Martinez, could result in her being released back into the public without immigration officials being formally notified.
If Martinez manages to bond out, she would be prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol, operating a vehicle, and contacting the families of the victims.
