NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Federal immigration officials have asked Texas authorities to hold two Mexican nationals accused in a deadly head-on crash that killed a 27-year-old man and injured his 3-year-old daughter.
In a press release dated Sept. 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged detainers with the Guadalupe County Jail for two “criminal illegal aliens” charged in connection with the crash. DHS said the detainers request that Texas officials not release the suspects.
According to local reporting cited by DHS, Alex “Bubba” Nunez, 27, was killed in a head-on crash on Sept. 12 in New Braunfels, and his 3-year-old daughter was injured. Police identified the other driver as Rafael Alejandro Arreguin-Ramirez, whom DHS described as an illegal alien from Mexico. DHS said Arreguin-Ramirez was charged with intoxication manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
DHS said the passenger in Arreguin-Ramirez’s vehicle, Alejandro Aguillen Acosta, also described as an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with evading arrest and criminal trespass after he fled the scene and hid in a nearby garage.
ICE lodged detainers for both suspects with the Guadalupe County Jail the day after they were arrested, DHS said.
“These two illegal aliens from Mexico have been charged with intoxicated manslaughter, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and evading arrest for their involvement in a fatal head-on collision in Texas that killed a man and injured a 3-year-old,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “Alex Nunez should still be alive today because this tragedy was completely preventable. ICE has lodged detainers asking our partners in Texas to cooperate with us so that these criminals can be removed from our country after they face justice. My thoughts and prayers are with Alex Nunez’s family, as well as for the child’s speedy recovery.”
DHS said Arreguin-Ramirez illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.
DHS said Aguillen-Acosta first illegally entered the United States through Texas in March 2023 and was granted a voluntary return to Mexico. DHS said he then illegally re-entered through New Mexico in January 2025 and was deported that same month, before entering the country a third time at an unknown date and location.