Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: ICYMI-Deputy Secretary Edgar: “An Illegal Immigrant Killed Two Teenagers In My Community
Under The Trump Administration, He Will Face Justice”
Oscar Ortega-Anguiano is set to be released from prison after serving just three-and-a-half years of his 10-year sentence for the killing of Anya Varfolomeev and Nikolay Osokin
WASHINGTON – Today, the Washington Examiner published Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar’s Op-Ed in the Washington Examiner titled, “An Illegal Immigrant Killed Two Teenagers In My Community
Under the Trump Administration, He Will Face Justice
”
The Op-Ed highlights the story of Anya Varfolomeev and Nikolay Osokin, two 19-year-olds that were killed in 2021 by an illegal alien who was driving under the influence in the Deputy Secretary’s home state of California
Recently, it was revealed that Oscar Ortega-Anguiano—the teens’ killer—is set to be released from a California state prison after serving just three-and-a-half years of a 10-year sentence
However, the Trump administration is intervening to ensure Ortega-Anguiano does not walk free
The worst call you could ever receive as a parent is one telling you that your teenage son or daughter has been in a car accident
It’s a lifechanging call that would go down as one of the worst days of your life
It could be even worse though: What if you also found out that the driver that caused the accident was in our country illegally? This tragic circumstance is a reality for the parents of Anya Varfolomeev and Nikolay Osokin
At just 19 years old, these two young people from Orange County, California had their whole lives ahead of them
Varfolomeev was a bright young woman, who was a dedicated ballerina and scout
Osokin was a gifted student at Pepperdine University who excelled in both music and academics
But in November 2021, their lives were senselessly stolen in a fiery crash caused by a criminal illegal alien who should have never been in this country in the first place
Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano was driving drunk, high on drugs, and speeding at nearly 100 mph on the 405 freeway when he crashed into a vehicle carrying Varfolomeev and Osokin
Even worse, Ortega-Anguiano was a repeat criminal, with a track record that includes multiple felonies and convictions for driving without a license
Despite being deported, he re-entered our country illegally twice
Now, four years later, Ortega-Anguiano is set to be released from California state prison after serving just 3
5 years of his 10-year sentence
I’ve spoken to Anya’s father, and he is outraged
So am I
This story hits especially close to home because I served as mayor and city council member of Los Alamitos for over a decade, and this tragic incident happened in our community
It also represents so much that is wrong with our broken immigration system
As Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, I work relentlessly under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem to carry out their priorities to protect our communities from brutal criminals who should not be loose on American streets
Under the Trump administration, DHS is enforcing our nation’s immigration laws and seeking to punish criminals to the fullest extent of the law, and this has my direct attention
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer for Ortega-Anguiano with the California Department of Corrections
If state authorities do not honor the ICE detainer, federal agents will take custody of Ortega-Anguiano and deport him immediately upon release
The U
S
Attorney for the Central District of California has also filed a felony immigration charge against Ortega-Anguiano, which could put him behind bars for an additional 20 years
Under the secretary’s leadership, the department is also giving support to victims by reopening the ICE’s Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement office
VOICE was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration
The Biden administration shuttered the office, leaving victims and their families without access to key resources and support services–but we will not allow their stories to be silenced any longer
Every day, the Trump Administration is working to prevent these tragedies from happening in another town, to another family
We owe it to Anya and Nikolay, and every family like theirs, to never stop fighting for justice and safety
That starts with removing the worst of the worst– and making sure they never return
Not in my town
Not in any American town