Congresswoman Scholten Demands Answers from ICE after Fatal Car Crash in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Today, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03) released the following statement regarding the recent fatal car crash in Grand Rapids that involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Congresswoman Scholten also sent a letter to David Venturella, the Acting Director of ICE, demanding immediate answers on the tragedy.

"No traffic stop should end with a fatality. Something went wrong, and we need to know what and how. I have sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement demanding immediate answers about what happened and a transparent investigation into facts we don't yet know, so that we can prevent something like this from ever happening again. The purpose of federal law enforcement is to make our communities safer. We must make sure that is happening. I will continue to monitor this situation closely and remain in close contact with federal and local law enforcement until our community gets the answers we deserve."

Congresswoman Scholten's letter to ICE can be found here and below:

Dear Mr. Venturella:

I write regarding a fatal vehicle crash that occurred on September 20, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Publicly available news reports indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel initiated a pursuit that led to this crash and the death of Mario David Coronado Juarez. As the representative for Michigan's Third Congressional District, I have an oversight responsibility to my constituents to understand the circumstances of this incident, including whether federal law enforcement conduct contributed to a constituent's death and whether that conduct was consistent with applicable laws and agency policy.

To that end, I respectfully request that ICE confirm whether it or another federal agency was involved in any conduct related to the crash, and, if so, respond to the following questions:

1. What was the stated reason for the stop or attempted stop of the subject vehicle?

2. Was the subject the target of a preexisting warrant, order of removal, or ongoing investigation?

3. Did agents pursue rather than discontinue the stop when the driver failed to yield?

   1. If yes, describe in detail the nature of the pursuit.

   2. If no, describe in detail the steps taken to clearly demonstrate the stop was discontinued.

4. If a pursuit of any kind followed, was the pursuit classified as high-risk? If so, what factors were relied upon to justify that classification, and by whom?

5. Were the pursuing vehicle's visual and audible signals activated for the duration of the pursuit?

6. How many agents and vehicles were involved in the pursuit, and were the pursuing vehicles(s) marked or unmarked?

7. Were agents involved in the pursuit equipped with and wearing body-worn cameras, and, if so, were those cameras activated during the incident?

8. Were the pursuing vehicles equipped with dash cameras, and, if so, was footage captured?

9. Please confirm that all body-worn camera footage, dash camera footage, and incident reports related to this crash are being preserved.

10. Is ICE willing to make relevant footage and records available to this office, local law enforcement, and the family of the deceased?

11. Was the relevant local or state law enforcement agency notified about ICE's involvement in this crash, and, if so, when were they notified?

12. Is ICE required by policy or any existing agreement to notify or coordinate with local police before conducting operations or pursuits in this jurisdiction?

13. Has next of kin been notified, and by whom?

Given that this incident resulted in the death of one of my constituents, I request a written response no later than September 27, 2026. I also request an immediate formal briefing from the ICE Field Office leadership to the Michigan Congressional Delegation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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