A 16-year-old undocumented migrant who received probation for a fatal crash that killed a Colorado drug rehabilitation worker has been taken into custody by federal authorities. The Colombian teen, whose identity remains protected under state law for juvenile offenders, was arrested alongside his family members by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on May 20.
According to the New York Post, the arrest comes just weeks after the teen received what many criticized as a lenient sentence for the high-speed crash that killed 24-year-old Kaitlyn Weaver in Aurora, Colorado last year.
ICE officials announced the arrest on social media platform X, stating: "A 16-year-old citizen of Colombia, with a conviction for reckless driving resulting in death, was arrested by ICE Denver officers last week and will remain in ICE custody pending an immigration hearing."
The deadly incident occurred on July 8, 2024, when the then-15-year-old Colombian national was driving a Jeep without a license at speeds exceeding 90 mph in a 45 mph zone. The teen's reckless driving resulted in a catastrophic collision with Weaver's vehicle at an intersection.
Investigation reports indicate Weaver, a University of Colorado Boulder graduate, was crossing the intersection when the speeding vehicle struck her car. She sustained critical injuries that left her on life support in intensive care for two days before her organs were donated.
Aurora police determined Weaver had been unable to see the teen's speeding vehicle approaching before the impact. Photos from the scene showed her severely damaged vehicle, requiring emergency responders to extract her from the wreckage.
Earlier this month, the teen entered into a plea agreement with Arapahoe County District Attorney Amy Padden. The deal reduced his charges in exchange for two years of probation and 100 hours of community service, with requirements to attend school and avoid further legal troubles.
The sentence immediately drew criticism from immigration officials and the victim's family. ICE Denver publicly condemned the decision on social media, writing: "For the @DA18th, justice is no jail time and probation for this criminal alien who killed a young woman while driving more than 90mph. For ICE, justice is arrest and removal."
Padden defended her controversial decision in comments posted under an unrelated Facebook post. Her statement focused primarily on the dangers of speeding rather than addressing immigration concerns, noting: "We acknowledge Kaitlyn Weaver's death was the direct result of a crash caused by an unlicensed teenager driving at nearly twice the posted speed limit. This tragic loss is a powerful reminder that it is not just alcohol or drug impaired driving that takes lives."
The teen's mother, who owned the Jeep involved in the crash, admitted she had attempted to return her son to Colombia following the incident. However, the teen reportedly wished to remain in the United States and file for asylum.
Court records show the teen's asylum claim remains active within the immigration court system. Despite this pending asylum application, ICE maintains the authority to detain illegal immigrants while their cases proceed through the courts.
ICE released a statement explaining their enforcement priorities: "As part of its routine operations, ICE arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws. All aliens in violation of US immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality."
Jeff Weaver, the victim's father, expressed his frustration with what he views as systemic failures that contributed to his daughter's death. His emotional statement to the media captured the intersection of immigration policy and criminal justice issues.
"We had a collision where the immigration system and the criminal justice system collided, and now my daughter's dead," Weaver told Fox News, highlighting his belief that multiple breakdowns in enforcement and accountability led to the tragedy.
The case has become a flashpoint in ongoing national debates about immigration enforcement and juvenile justice. Immigration officials emphasized that their arrest of the teen and his family aligns with their mandate to enforce immigration laws regardless of pending asylum claims.
