A man who federal officials said was deported four times before a 2025 hit-and-run that killed a young boy in Escondido, was sentenced Thursday to three years in state prison.
Hector Amador Balderas, 45, whose case sparked a public clash between federal and state officials due to his immigration status, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a felony count of hit-and-run causing death. He struck Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving, then drove away from the scene.
Witnesses said Aiden went into the street to retrieve a soccer ball when he was hit at about 5 p.m. near the intersection of East Washington Avenue and Hickory Street. He was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital where he died the following morning, police said.
Torres De Paz. (Photo courtesy of Department of the Homeland Security)
Prosecutors said Amador Balderas turned himself in a few days later.
At the time of his arrest, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security made claims that California had refused to honor what’s known as an immigration detainer filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in which local law enforcement agencies are asked to notify the federal forces when someone they believe is deportable will be released from custody.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that she was calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to “do the right thing and honor ICE’s arrest detainer.” Newsom in turn called the DHS allegations “a complete lie” and said California honors federal criminal warrants.
