Executive Summary
- Brayan Josue Alva-Rodriguez, a Guatemalan national, is the primary suspect in a fatal crash near Julian, CA.
- ICE officials confirmed the suspect was ordered removed from the U.S. in March 2023 but did not depart.
- The collision killed an 8-year-old girl and injured six others; alcohol is suspected as a factor.
- Alva-Rodriguez had two prior DUI charges while awaiting immigration proceedings.
- ICE intends to place an immigration detainer on the suspect once formal charges are filed.
JULIAN, Calif. — A Guatemalan national previously ordered removed from the United States has been identified by federal authorities as the primary suspect in a fatal head-on collision near Julian, California, that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old girl and left six others injured. Officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the suspect’s immigration status following the incident, which occurred along San Felipe Road.
Authorities identified the suspect as 25-year-old Brayan Josue Alva-Rodriguez. According to a statement from the ICE San Diego office, Alva-Rodriguez unlawfully entered the United States in February 2018 and was subsequently arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Calexico. At that time, he was released with a notice to appear for immigration proceedings. While those proceedings were ongoing, officials report that Alva-Rodriguez was charged with driving under the influence on two separate occasions: once in September 2020 and again in April 2021.
In March 2023, an immigration judge issued a final order for Alva-Rodriguez’s removal from the country. ICE officials stated that he failed to depart as required by the judicial order. Following the recent collision, ICE announced its intention to lodge an immigration detainer against Alva-Rodriguez once formal charges related to the crash are filed. A readiness hearing for the suspect has been scheduled for January 7, 2026.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is leading the investigation into the crash, which occurred several miles northeast of Julian. Investigators suspect alcohol was a contributing factor in the collision. The crash claimed the life of an 8-year-old girl, identified by family members as Arya, and resulted in the hospitalization of her family members. A fundraising page established by the family notes that the victim’s father, Oscar Cruz-Acencio, is a U.S. Marine stationed in Yuma, Arizona.
Investigative and Legal Outlook
This case highlights the complex intersection of local criminal enforcement and federal immigration law. As local investigators work to reconstruct the collision and finalize charges related to vehicular manslaughter and impaired driving, federal authorities are simultaneously moving to enforce prior removal orders. The placement of an ICE detainer indicates that federal custody transfer will likely be sought upon the resolution of state criminal proceedings or release from local custody. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
