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Oregon-Issued License Held by Deportation-Order Holder Linked to Boise Child’s Death

Elvin Elgardo Ramos-Caballero was arrested after a Nov. 11 crash in Boise that killed 8-year-old Mora Gerety. Authorities say he held an Oregon-issued driver’s license despite an in-absentia removal order from May 2019 and an outstanding ICE warrant. DHS criticized state licensing policies for undocumented immigrants, and Rep. Byron Donalds cited the case to push for the WEIGH Act to increase federal oversight of CDL issuance. Investigations and legal proceedings are ongoing, and the community continues to mourn the victim.

01:31 AM, 11/23/2025Politics
Oregon-Issued License Held by Deportation-Order Holder Linked to Boise Child’s Death

An individual identified by authorities as Elvin Elgardo Ramos-Caballero was arrested after a Nov. 11 crash in Boise, Idaho, that killed 8-year-old Mora Gerety. Officials say Ramos-Caballero was driving a pickup truck using an Oregon-issued driver’s license when he attempted a right-hand turn at an intersection and struck the child.

Law enforcement records indicate Ramos-Caballero had an outstanding federal warrant with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for failing to appear at an immigration hearing. A judge ordered him removed from the United States in absentia in May 2019. U.S. authorities also say he was released into the country during the Obama administration.

"Eight-year-old Mora Gerety’s precious life was taken by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country, let alone issued a driver's license by the sanctuary state of Oregon," said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She urged Americans to support the family and criticized long-standing immigration policies as having dangerous consequences.

Members of Congress and public officials reacted to the case as part of a broader debate over state licensing policies for undocumented immigrants. Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) pointed to the Boise crash and other recent incidents to call for stronger federal oversight of commercial driver’s license (CDL) issuance.

Lawmakers referenced a recent joint operation by ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that resulted in arrests of undocumented immigrants, including individuals alleged to be operating commercial trucks unlawfully. They also cited a separate summer crash in which a driver who had obtained a Washington state CDL after multiple failed attempts was implicated in a collision that killed three people. Officials said body-worn camera footage from that scene suggested the driver had limited English proficiency despite training company attestations.

Rep. Donalds has sponsored the WEIGH Act, legislation intended to give the Department of Transportation broader authority over CDL issuance and to allow the Treasury Department to withhold federal funds from states that fail to comply with federal standards. Supporters say such measures would address safety concerns tied to inconsistent state licensing practices; critics argue solutions should balance public safety with access and due process.

The community and officials continue to mourn Mora Gerety. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash, and the legal process regarding Ramos-Caballero is ongoing. Families and members of the public have been asked to keep the victim’s loved ones in their thoughts during this difficult time.

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