MIAMI — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities have lodged a detainer requesting that local law enforcement in Miami not release an illegal alien from El Salvador accused of sexually assaulting an Uber driver, leading to a vehicle crash in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood.
Oscar Ernesto Sanchez-Aguire, 26, faces charges of battery and culpable negligence resulting in injuries following the Jan. 31 incident, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.
The agency announced the detainer on Feb. 6, stating it was lodged on Feb. 3 to prevent Sanchez-Aguire’s release back into the community without notification to ICE.
According to local news reports, Sanchez-Aguire allegedly directed the Uber driver to turn onto a dark street, where he covered her mouth, groped her, and sexually assaulted her. The assault caused the driver to lose control of the SUV, which collided with another vehicle and crashed into a building wall. An eyewitness reported seeing the woman trapped in the damaged vehicle and heard her repeatedly say, “He tried to rape me, he tried to rape me, he tried to touch me, abuse me.” Sanchez-Aguire attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by local authorities.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, slammed prior border policies in a statement.
“This is yet another example of how years of open border policies have resulted in a heartbreaking number of preventable attacks,” McLaughlin said. “This monster should never have been in our country in the first place and had the opportunity to prey on this innocent woman. Every day we’re working to get illegal aliens out of our country before more innocent Americans are victimized.”
DHS said emphasized that ICE’s action aims to ensure Sanchez-Aguire is not released back into Miami neighborhoods “to sexually assault more innocent women.” The agency described the incident as part of broader efforts by DHS law enforcement to protect communities from “another senseless tragedy.“
The case remains under investigation by local law enforcement, with ICE seeking custody for potential immigration proceedings.