DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton is blasting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ border policies following the 20-year sentence handed down to an undocumented immigrant for a fatal DUI-related crash.
On June 3, 2023, 26-year-old Baudilio Benedicto Perez Lopez was taken into custody for a vehicle collision that occurred on Highway 302 in DeSoto County. At the scene, law enforcement officers found Perez Lopez trapped in his vehicle, which contained empty bottles of Modelo beer. The subject, a resident of Guatemala, was subsequently transported to the hospital due to his injuries.
While Perez Lopez survived, the other driver involved in the accident, an unidentified female, succumbed to her injuries. During law enforcement’s investigation into the incident, Perez Lopez presented a false Guatemalan identification card to the officers, resulting in additional charges being tacked onto his rap sheet.
According to Barton, Perez Lopez unlawfully entered the U.S. from Guatemala in 2021. The north Mississippi prosecutor placed blame on President Joe Biden and his “open border” policies which he argued incentivized the migrant to come to Mississippi illegally.
“Today’s sentencing is a crucial step in delivering justice for the victim,” Barton said. “This tragic and preventable incident highlights the severe consequences of driving under the influence; and the dismal failures of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, whose policies have left us with an open border and prevented U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from enforcing U.S. immigration laws.”
The DA also expressed his disdain over the reality that Perez Lopez will be housed in a Magnolia State detention facility at the expense of the taxpayers and contended that the criminal should be deported to his home country of Guatemala.
“Now, this illegal alien will be incarcerated in state prison at the expense of Mississippi taxpayers, but he should have been deported back to his country of origin instead,” he added.
Additionally, Barton penned the following letter to expected Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris:
I am writing you to bring your attention to a matter of deep concern regarding the recent sentencing of an illegal immigrant in Mississippi, who crossed our border under your administration. Today, this individual was sentenced to 20 years in state prison by the Honorable Judge Chatham for a DUI-related incident resulting in tragic loss of life on June 3rd, 2023.
This troubling and unfortunate incident highlights the serious consequences that have resulted from open borders and your administration preventing the Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from performing its duties. As the top prosecutor for Mississippi’s 23rd Judicial District, I join with millions of other Americans who are deeply troubled by instances where preventable tragedies occur due to gaps in immigration enforcement, like this one.
Given your role as Vice President and your recent decision to run for President of the United States, I respectfully urge you to secure our Southern Border and lift the restrictions on Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations under U.S. immigration law. Your leadership and your administration’s policies on this issue have compromised the safety of all Americans and our nation’s security long enough.
Mississippians do not wish to see criminals, especially illegal aliens, who have committed crimes in our community remain in our county jails and state prisons at taxpayer expense. Instead, we seek expedited solutions that uphold the rule of law and protect our neighborhoods from further unnecessary tragedies.
I trust that you will give this matter the attention it deserves and take appropriate action to address my concerns, including deporting this illegal alien, and others like him, back to their home country of origin in an expeditious manner.
Perez Lopez’ sentencing comes after the defendant pleaded guilty.
