A 9-month-old boy died after being struck by a vehicle in a New Jersey grocery store parking lot, an incident that has brought the state's sanctuary policies under renewed scrutiny. Authorities have charged Maria Cobon-Guzman, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, with manslaughter in connection with the Friday incident.
The crash occurred in the parking lot of a kosher grocery store in Jackson, where Cobon-Guzman allegedly struck a mother, her 9-month-old son, and his 5-year-old sister. The infant was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The mother and the 5-year-old child remain hospitalized in stable condition.
Another woman, Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, was also charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent person for allegedly allowing Cobon-Guzman, whom she knew was unlicensed, to drive her car. Both women reportedly entered the U.S. during the current administration. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials stated that Lazaro-Flores had illegally entered the U.S. five times in October 2023 and was removed each time. Cobon-Guzman entered once and was released into the U.S. interior, and an immigration judge issued an order of removal against her on July 31.
DHS has urged the Ocean County Jail to honor ICE detainers for both women, calling for their removal from American communities. "An innocent baby would still be alive today had it not been for Joe Biden’s disastrous open border and reckless immigration policy that released countless illegal aliens into our country," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
The incident has intensified criticism of New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits the extent to which state and local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Tom Homan, former acting ICE director, has been a vocal critic of such sanctuary policies, arguing they impede federal law enforcement efforts and compromise public safety.
New Jersey Republicans have also criticized state leadership, suggesting that the state's policies contributed to the tragedy. They have called for New Jersey to comply with ICE detainers when individuals charged with serious crimes are involved, emphasizing the need to prioritize the safety of New Jersey families.
As of Tuesday morning, Democratic New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who signed legislation codifying the Immigrant Trust Directive, had not issued a public comment on the incident. A spokesperson for the governor directed inquiries to the Attorney General's office, which did not immediately respond. This relative silence has drawn criticism on social media, with some users questioning Sherrill's focus and urging her to address public safety concerns related to immigration.