Flynn blames sanctuary policies for illegal alien suspected of killing mother, child in Lakewood: ‘Sanctuary policies protect criminals, not families’

Garden State Times

Asm. Vicky Flynn (R-Monmouth) says that New Jersey’s sanctuary policies are to blame for the deaths of a mother and daughter in Lakewood—a tragedy she called preventable had the illegal alien suspect remained behind bars for his prior convictions. 

Maria Pleitez, 42, and her 11-year-old daughter, Dayanara Cortes, were killed on July 26 when their Nissan Sentra was struck head-on by a Dodge Durango driven by 43-year-old Raul Luna-Perez, who had a history of DUI arrests and a domestic violence charge.

Luna-Perez, who is currently being held at Ocean County Jail, now faces two counts of vehicular homicide and assault by auto.

The crash also left another 11-year-old girl critically injured, though she has since stabilized. 

Luna-Perez sustained only minor injuries and was arrested at the scene.

Flynn, who represents part of Monmouth County, where Luna-Perez lived and had previously been arrested, expressed frustration over the tragedy. 

“It’s outrageous,” Flynn told the Garden State Times. “This man should have been removed from Monmouth County several arrests ago which would have prevented this tragic accident. If Attorney General Matt Platkin had allowed law enforcement to follow federal law, Raul Luna‑Perez could have been handed over to ICE and removed long ago.” 

Flynn said the state’s sanctuary policies, which allow illegal immigrants with lengthy criminal records like Luna-Perez to remain in New Jersey, have devastating and entirely preventable consequences for families across the state.

“Weak sanctuary policies let him stay here until a mother and child were killed,” she said. “A child should never have to grow up without their mother. That’s the real consequence of turning a blind eye to drunk driving and ignoring federal law.” 

“I live in Monmouth County,” she said. “By allowing him to drive around our community despite all of his prior arrests caused an immediate danger to me, my family, and every family in our community. This tragedy could have been visited upon anyone in our community.” 

Luna-Perez had been arrested three times by Red Bank police, all within Monmouth County, including two DUI offenses in early 2025 and a domestic violence charge in 2023. 

Despite this pattern of recidivism, no deportation proceedings were initiated until after the fatal crash.

Red Bank is not a self-declared sanctuary city, but like all municipalities in the state, it operates under New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive, a policy issued by Attorney General Matt Platkin that restricts local law enforcement from notifying ICE or cooperating with federal immigration authorities unless a judge signs off.Flynn defended local police. 

“Red Bank police did their job,” she said. “But Platkin’s Immigrant Trust Directive blocks them from fully working with federal immigration authorities. They arrested him, but the state kept them from taking the next step: reporting him to ICE so he could be removed.” 

She placed clear responsibility on the state’s top law enforcement official.

“Sanctuary policies protect criminals, not families,” she said. “This tragedy is the direct result of Attorney General Platkin tying the hands of our police and prioritizing ideology over public safety. If law enforcement had been allowed to follow federal law, this family would be alive.” 

Highlighting the urgent need for reform, Flynn said removing restrictions on local police is essential to prevent tragedies and protect families across New Jersey.

“This is not complicated—law enforcement should be allowed to follow federal law,” Flynn said. “Right now, Platkin’s sanctuary directives prevent local police from notifying ICE when undocumented individuals are arrested for serious or repeat crimes. End those directives, enforce the law, and protect our communities.” 

Rejecting the notion that immigration enforcement conflicts with immigrant support, she emphasized that true community trust comes from applying the law fairly, not excusing criminal behavior.

“Community trust does not mean giving criminals a free pass,” she said. “Law‑abiding immigrants deserve protection, but people who repeatedly break our laws should face real consequences—starting with deportation. Our first duty is to protect New Jersey families.” 

Flynn also expressed her views on the incident through a Facebook post.

“This is outrageous,” she posted. “People need to vote like their lives depend on it, because they do.” 

“Democrats in Trenton continue to push sanctuary policies that put dangerous individuals back on our streets. These policies are reckless, and they make every New Jersey resident less safe.” 

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin pointed to the state’s sanctuary policies as a direct cause of the tragedy, noting their impact on public safety.

“Governor Murphy and his sanctuary policies released this serial criminal into New Jersey communities,” McLaughlin said in a press release. “Now, this innocent family is shattered by their failed leadership. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to do everything in their power to remove these criminal illegal aliens before they destroy more lives.”

The incident comes three months after the Department of Justice sued Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken, accusing the cities of violating federal law by blocking cooperation with immigration authorities through sanctuary policies. DOJ officials argue that these policies undermine federal immigration enforcement, endanger law enforcement officers and threaten public safety. 

Funeral services for Pleitez and her daughter were held at Lakewood Funeral Home in Howell, where over 150 mourners gathered in remembrance. 

Friends and family wore shirts bearing photos of the victims. 

A GoFundMe campaign launched by Pleitez’s niece has raised over $30,000 to help cover burial costs and repatriate their bodies to El Salvador.

Flynn offered condolences and a personal message to the grieving family.

“My heart breaks for you,” she said. “As a parent, I can’t imagine your pain. You deserved better from your government. I will continue to fight to against these failed policies and weak leadership.” 

She also shared her own experience with loss. 

“I know the pain of losing a mother at a young age—it is tragic, it changes the course of your life, and it is something no child should endure,” Flynn said. “There is a child right now who has lost a mom and a sibling because our state leaders put ideology above public safety. I hope this incident will change the way people approach the immigrant issue, but I am not confident because there have been other instances before.” 

“It saddens me how little some public officials care about our residents.” 

Maria Pleitez, her 11-year-old daughter Dayanara Cortes, who tragically died in a Lakewood crash, and her other daughter who was critically injured but has since stabilized. (GoFundMe)