ICYMI: Vitter Says Fatal Louisiana Bus Crash Could Have Been Prevented
Press Release
Earlier this week, U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) urged Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to provide the background information and immigration history of Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, an illegal immigrant who was driving a bus that crashed and killed two people and injured dozens of others in LaPlace, La. Vitter sent the letter along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.). Click here to read more.
Vitter made the following statement today.
"This criminal illegal alien was arrested numerous time by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, including on violent offenses and serious driving offenses, but he was never jailed for long or deported. He should never have been in the country, much less behind the wheel of a packed bus. This tragedy is exactly what Sanctuary Cities and similar policies lead to," said Vitter.
In the days since, Rodriguez's criminal history in Louisiana has been made public and his many crimes are listed below:
January 2011: Arrested by Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office for domestic abuse battery. Disposition unknown.
June 2011: Arrested by Jefferson Parish for 2nd degree battery and domestic abuse battery. Charges dismissed on 10/31/12.
September 2012: Received citation in Jefferson Parish for no driver's license. Pled guilty 01/11/13, paid fine.
September 2012: Booked in Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office on attachment.
January 2013: Received citation in Jefferson Parish for failure to maintain control, improper lane change and no driver's license. Pled guilty 03/19/13.
February 2014: Received citation in Jefferson Parish for failure to secure child in seat and no driver's license. Pled guilty to no driver's license on 08/15/2014 paid fine; Child seat charge dismissed 08/15/2014.
April 2014: Received citation in Jefferson Parish for improper turn and no driver's license. Pled guilty to no driver's license on 11/21/2014 paid fine; Improper turn dismissed on 11/21/2014.
August 2016: Arrested by the Louisiana State Police for 2 counts negligent homicide, negligent injuring, reckless operation and no driver's license.
This past Sunday, Rodriguez was reportedly driving a bus full of other foreign nationals when the bus collided into multiple emergency response vehicles that were on site to clear an earlier accident. He was operating the bus without a driver's license or insurance and has been arrested previously on numerous occasions. Spencer Chauvin, the St. John the Baptist Parish Fire District Chief, and 21-year-old Jermaine Starr were both killed in the crash.
Below are excerpts from several news articles that cover Senator Vitter's request to DHS Secretary Johnson.
The Daily Advertiser
Sens. Vitter, Cassidy seek probe of bus driver's background
By Deborah Barfield Berry | August 31, 2016
Louisiana Republican Sens. David Vitter and Bill Cassidy are asking federal officials to investigate the background of the bus driver involved in Sunday's fatal crash on Interstate 10.
The senators, along with Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson on Tuesday to look into the history of Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, who law enforcement officials say is in the country illegally and has no driver's license. Click here to read the entire article.
The Advocate
LaPlace bus crash: Driver blames faulty brakes, officials demand answers on immigration status
By Ramon Antonio Vargas, Jim Mustian and David Hammer | August 30, 2016
The driver of the party bus that crashed early Sunday in St. John the Baptist Parish blamed faulty brakes for the fatal collision, according to three people who have spoken to surviving witnesses.
Meanwhile, several elected officials in Louisiana and beyond demanded answers Tuesday regarding the immigration status of the bus driver, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, a Honduran national who is in the United States illegally, has been cited a half-dozen times for driving without a license and was arrested in 2011 on domestic abuse battery charges that were later dropped. Click here to read the entire article.
Breitbart
GOP Senators Demand Information on Illegal Who Killed Two in Louisiana Crash
By Warner Todd Huston | August 31, 2016
Republican lawmakers are demanding that President Barack Obama's deputies release the full criminal and immigration history of the migrant bus driver who killed a fire chief and a young man in Louisiana.
Illegal alien Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez was driving a bus of hired illegal workers who were being imported from other states for cleanup after the recent historic floods. But he ran headlong into a group of police and fire vehicles who were clearing a road accident in St. John the Baptist Parish. Click here to read the entire article.
The Washington Examiner
GOP senators demand intel on illegal alien driver who killed two
By Anna Giaritelli | August 30, 2016
Louisiana's two U.S. senators on Tuesday demanded answers from the Department of Homeland Security about an illegal immigrant involved in a fatal bus accident in their state over the weekend.
Republican Sens. David Vitter and Bill Cassidy, along with Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, asked DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson give them more information about the identity of the bus driver, who law enforcement said was a Honduran man illegally present in the U.S., and who didn't have a driver's license. Click here to read the entire article.
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