A fourteen-year-old boy’s life was tragically cut short this month in Southern California, the victim of a devastating hit-and-run. Liam Cantu, a freshman at La Quinta High School, was riding his bicycle when a vehicle struck him and a fellow teenager on October 10th.
Liam fought for his life for two weeks, but succumbed to his injuries on October 24th, leaving a community reeling in grief. The other teen involved in the crash was hospitalized but has since been released, carrying the emotional scars of that fateful evening.
The driver, now identified as Jose Abelardo Villegas-Orbe, 47, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and a DUI hit-and-run resulting in death. But the story doesn’t end with the charges; a deeper, more troubling narrative is unfolding.
Villegas-Orbe is a citizen of Mexico who entered the country illegally. What’s more, records reveal a history of prior DUI arrests – two separate incidents in Riverside County, California, occurring in August and November of 2024.
These weren’t first-time offenses, yet Villegas-Orbe remained in the country. Sources within federal law enforcement indicate that, at the time of the earlier arrests, ICE detainers weren’t filed because the charges were classified as misdemeanors.
The arrests, while concerning, didn’t meet the current immigration enforcement priorities established by the administration. This meant no action was taken to initiate deportation proceedings after either incident, a decision that now carries immense weight.
ICE has since filed a detainer request following the fatal hit-and-run, but cooperation may be limited. California’s sanctuary state law could prevent local law enforcement from honoring the request, even if Villegas-Orbe is granted bail.
La Quinta High School mourned Liam as a vibrant and energetic presence. In a heartfelt post, the school remembered his smile, his laughter, and the joy he brought to everyone around him, vowing to keep his spirit alive within the school community.
The tragedy has ignited a firestorm of questions and grief, forcing a community to confront not only the loss of a young life, but also the complex realities surrounding immigration policy and its consequences.
