Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett is defending the county’s sanctuary policy days after high school sweethearts Hallie Helgeson, 18, and Brady Heiling, 19, were killed in a crash allegedly caused by an illegal alien. On July 20, Noelia Martinez, a 30-year-old Honduran national, was reportedly drunk when she drove the wrong way and struck the teens. Hallie died at the scene; Brady passed five days later. Martinez, who had a criminal record, avoided Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to Dane County’s policy of not honoring detainers—requests to hold individuals for ICE custody. Homeland Security officials condemned the policy, saying it allowed a known public safety threat to remain in the U.S. Sheriff Barrett insists ICE should obtain a criminal warrant, though federal law only requires administrative ones. Critics argue this tactic obstructs immigration enforcement. ICE has since lodged a detainer against Martinez, who remains in custody on vehicular homicide charges. Her next court appearance is set for September 22.
