Bail Reduced for Accused Killer of Washington State Trooper

The illegal immigrant accused of killing Washington State Trooper, Christopher Gadd, will likely be released on bail in the near future.

Defense attorneys for illegal immigrant, Raul Benitez Santana, argued for his bail to be reduced from $1 million to $100,000 arguing that Santana is not a flight risk, The Blaze reports. The attorneys, Emily Hancock and Tiffany Mecca, claimed that their client has a steady job and is father to three children.

As an illegal immigrant from Mexico, the concern is an easy escape out of the country, thus evading trial and a possible prison sentence.

Santana’s attorneys told Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Okrent that their client was welcome in his parents’ home. They said he is considered a member of the community and a resident of Washington state.

The judge agreed to reduce the bail as the attorney’s requested. Santana will remain locked up in jail unless or until he can post the $100,000 bail.

Gadd’s widow objected to the reduction of bail writing a letter to the judge, HeraldNet reports.

“Reducing bail would not only undermine the severity of the crime but also inflict further anguish and distress upon me, our child, and the rest of our family,” the letter reads.

Since March 2nd Santana has been held in the Snohomish County jail charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. As previously reported, the suspect rammed Gadd’s vehicle at a high rate of speed. The Trooper was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another tragic and senseless death connected to illegal immigration and soft-on-crime policies.

Due to his immigration status, ICE has issued a retainer for Santana who is a citizen of Mexico, Fox 13 reports. An ICE Immigration Detainer is issued for illegal immigrants who have been arrested for a crime.

Now that Santana’s attorneys have successfully argued for the lowered bail amount, it is possible that Santana could be released from the Snohomish County jail. At that point, he could face federal arrest and deportation.

The last few years the United States has had an unprecedented surge in illegal access across the southern border. Increased illegal immigration results in increased crime, the Heritage Foundation reported in June of last year. An excessive number of foreigners entering the country will naturally result in some coming with ill intent.

Arriving in a soft-on-crime city or a sanctuary state, like Washington, means there is little deterrent to behaving badly. Sanctuary states make it very difficult, or even criminal, for local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE in removing a criminal illegal alien.

In 2022, thousands of illegal immigrants with criminal records were discovered in the United States. This presents significant danger to American citizens, particularly the vulnerable such as children and the elderly.

The lack of control at the border, the soft-on-crime prosecutors, and sanctuary jurisdictions combine to create a combustible recipe for disaster, Heritage reports.

Illegal immigrants with criminal histories face a supportive environment in several locations within the United States making it more likely that they can commit crimes without facing consequences. Current policy encourages the growth of criminal behavior to the detriment of the law abiding.

With the ICE detainer, it is possible that Santana will be removed from the country and sent back to his home in Mexico. Snohomish County Deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow told HeraldNet that he hopes Santana will stand trial in Snohomish County. The family of State Trooper Christopher Gadd deserves to see justice done.

Originally published on NewsBreak, May 2024 by Eileen Griffin-Ray, Ph.D.