The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed that an illegal migrant killed 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Nate Baker in a hit-and-run on Wednesday.
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in an X post on Thursday that the driver who allegedly killed Nate Baker was “in our country illegally” and that the student “should be alive today.”
“Yesterday, 21-year-old USC student Nathanial ‘Nate’ Baker was driving a motorcycle when he was hit by a truck driver who fled the scene. The hit & run driver was in our country illegally. Nate should be alive today. [DHS] prays for Nate’s family, friends, and loved ones and will work every day to protect innocent Americans like Nate,” she wrote.
Yesterday, 21-year-old USC student Nathanial “Nate” Baker was driving a motorcycle when he was hit by a truck driver who fled the scene. The hit & run driver was in our country illegally.
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) April 3, 2025
Nate should be alive today. @DHSgov prays for Nate’s family, friends, and loved ones and… pic.twitter.com/BKtVVJuqM9
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin announced on X that a DHS source confirmed the “Salvadoran illegal alien had an active deportation order before this happened.”
“He was first arrested by Border Patrol near Hidalgo, TX in December 2016,” said Melguin. “He was released with a notice to appear. He never showed up – and in September 2018, a DOJ immigration judge in Charlotte, NC ordered him deported in absentia. He was never removed – and is now under arrest for this fatal hit and run, which killed a 21-year-old University of South Carolina student.”
NEW: Per DHS source, this Salvadoran illegal alien had an active deportation order before this happened. He was first arrested by Border Patrol near Hidalgo, TX in December 2016. He was released with a notice to appear. He never showed up - and in September 2018, a DOJ… https://t.co/3UKTT2CyqY
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 4, 2025
According to Fox News, Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, 24, was “charged with hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to give information and render aid, failure to yield the right of way and driving without a license, according to a statement from the Columbia Police Department (CPD).”
“Just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Fernandez-Cruz allegedly failed to yield the right of way while turning left at Blossom and Assembly streets, hitting Baker, who was on a motorcycle, with his truck, according to police,” noted the outlet.
Baker was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Fernandez-Cruz allegedly drove away from the accident and ran from the vehicle without rendering aid to the crash victim.
“Two men were with Fernandez-Cruz at the time of the accident and also fled, according to police. No charges are pending against them. The immigration status of the other men is unknown,” added Fox News.
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