ICE Washington announced in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press release that it lodged an immigration detainer for Humberto Munoz-Gatica, a Mexican national accused of killing 71-year-old Barry William Tutt in a DUI hit-and-run incident in Orange County, California.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that on November 8, 2025, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) lodged an arrest detainer for the 43-year-old after his arrest by the Santa Ana Sheriff’s Office. Munoz-Gatica is accused of driving under the influence and committing a hit-and-run on November 7 that resulted in Tutt’s death. ICE said that the detainer ensures Munoz-Gatica will be transferred to federal custody for removal proceedings if California authorities choose to cooperate.
According to records reviewed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Munoz-Gatica first entered the United States on a tourist visa that expired in August 2008. He was arrested by ICE in January 2011 for overstaying his visa but was released back into the country by the Obama administration. His criminal record includes a prior conviction for grand theft. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that the current case underscores the consequences of prior immigration enforcement failures, emphasizing that “open border and sanctuary policies continue to endanger American lives.”
California’s “sanctuary state” policy, codified under SB 54 – The California Values Act, restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE detainers except in limited cases involving violent felonies. Critics, including DHS officials, argue that the policy prevents coordination that could prevent repeat offenses by deportable criminals. Data from the Center for Immigration Studies shows that between 2018 and 2024, more than 3,000 ICE detainers were declined by California jurisdictions, leading to the re-release of foreign nationals charged with serious crimes such as DUI, assault, and homicide.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Washington Headquarters oversees national enforcement policy under DHS. Through its Enforcement and Removal Operations division, ICE focuses on identifying, arresting, and removing noncitizens convicted of crimes or deemed threats to public safety. The agency also administers the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office, relaunched in 2025 to assist families affected by crimes committed by removable aliens. Victims can contact VOICE at 1-855-488-6423 for support and case information.
