ICE Lodges Detainer for Serial Drunk Driver in Fatal NC Hit-and-Run

(DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an arrest detainer for a man accused in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a 61-year-old pedestrian in Durham, North Carolina. Officials said the suspect, identified as Wilmer Fuentes Mejia — also known as Werner Orosco-Clemente — was allegedly driving drunk with a revoked license when his vehicle veered off Chalk Level Road, struck two signs, and hit Richard Ferguson Jr. near a bus stop. The crash happened just before 10:45 p.m. on a Saturday in September 2025.

Durham authorities charged Mejia with felony hit and run, involuntary manslaughter, and driving with a revoked license. A local judge set his bond at $5 million, a figure prosecutors and family members said reflects both the severity of the loss and the risk posed by a repeat offender behind the wheel. ICE confirmed that Mejia is in the United States unlawfully and that he has been deported twice before.

The case has stirred strong emotions in Durham. Ferguson’s family said they feel some relief knowing the bond is high and that the arrest detainer could keep the defendant in custody while the criminal case moves forward. Neighbors noted that both the suspect and the victim lived in the same apartment complex near the crash site, adding a painful layer of proximity to an already devastating event.

Detainer and Criminal Charges

ICE’s detainer signals the federal government’s plan to pursue removal after the state case concludes. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, cases involving repeat impaired driving and deadly crashes often draw immediate federal attention, and local booking can trigger parallel immigration actions.

Officials highlighted several factors that shaped the federal response and the court’s view of public safety risk:
– Mejia’s 2020 DWI conviction
– Two prior deportations
– The deadly hit-and-run resulting in the loss of life

Prosecutors say the hit-and-run unfolded in seconds. After the vehicle left the roadway and struck roadside signs, it collided with Ferguson, who was by a bus stop along Chalk Level Road. The driver then fled. Police later arrested Mejia and booked him into the Durham County jail, where the detainer was placed.

ICE said the goal is to begin removal proceedings while respecting the state’s authority to prosecute the underlying crimes. The charges — involuntary manslaughter and felony hit and run — reflect investigators’ and prosecutors’ view that impaired driving, a revoked license, and a decision to flee combined to cause the fatality.

“The criminal case will test the facts, but the impacts are already clear: a family grieving, neighbors shaken, and residents asking how a driver with a history of impaired driving was back on the road.”

Community Impact and Policy Context

The Durham case fits into a wider federal push to detain and remove noncitizens accused of serious crimes, especially repeat DUI offenders tied to deadly crashes. ICE officials have stressed that they prioritize arrests of noncitizens who threaten public safety. This arrest detainer underscores that approach: the agency flagged the suspect’s prior deportations, his earlier drunk driving case, and the loss of life as clear reasons for immediate action.

Key practical implications of the detainer:
– If Mejia posts bond on the state charges, the detainer notifies jail officials that ICE seeks custody for immigration proceedings.
– That means the suspect may remain held even if he could otherwise bond out on the state case.
– Families view the detainer as a safeguard while the court process moves forward.

Community reactions and policy concerns:
– Some advocates call for stronger enforcement against impaired driving and better checks to keep people with revoked licenses off the road.
– Others emphasize due process and the importance of keeping courtroom decisions free from politics, even in high-profile cases.
– Residents urged review of roadway safety near Chalk Level Road — including lighting, signage, and speed control — because bus stops there place riders close to traffic after dark.

Officials have not released additional details about Mejia’s prior deportations beyond confirming he was removed twice and returned. That lack of detail highlights familiar urban questions: how to manage repeat drunk driving, how to coordinate between courts and immigration authorities, and how to support families tracking both a criminal case and an immigration case simultaneously.

For readers seeking official context on what an immigration detainer is and how it fits into local custody, more information is available from the federal government’s official page for ICE immigration detainers: the federal government’s official page for ICE immigration detainers

Court Considerations and Timeline

The $5 million bond reflects a judge’s effort to address flight risk and public safety. Courts commonly weigh:
– Criminal history
– Prior failures to appear
– Seriousness of the alleged crime

In this case, key elements cited in the bond decision included the 2020 DWI, repeated illegal reentry after deportation, and the fatal hit-and-run.

Typical sequence in similar cases:
1. State criminal charges are filed and prosecuted.
2. ICE places a detainer to seek custody for immigration proceedings.
3. If convicted, immigration consequences can be more severe; but even without conviction, civil immigration law can still proceed.
4. Families must navigate both systems — criminal and immigration — which can be confusing and emotionally taxing.

Defense attorneys often argue bond should be set at an amount the defendant can meet. Prosecutors counter that amounts must be sufficient to keep high-risk defendants in custody.

Human Impact and Ongoing Attention

This story centers on a man killed on a Saturday night, a family mourning, and a city grappling with safety and accountability. Community leaders said they will watch the court calendar closely and push for steady enforcement against impaired driving.

For now, Ferguson’s relatives have expressed gratitude for the high bond and the arrest detainer, both of which they believe make it more likely the defendant will remain in custody while the case advances.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this Durham case is part of a pattern in which federal and local systems intersect after deadly crashes. The site notes that when a suspect has multiple risk factors — repeat impaired driving, prior removals, and a fatal hit-and-run — ICE typically moves quickly to coordinate with local jails and prosecutors.

As the legal process continues, the community’s focus remains on:
– Safety
– Fairness
– Honoring the life of Richard Ferguson Jr.