ICE Arrests Honduran Man After DUI Death: Removal Proceedings
A Honduran man walked out of a Tennessee prison on April 20 — and straight into ICE custody. He had served six years for killing a Nashville musician in a drunk-driving crash. His case is now a clear example of how a criminal record can trigger immediate removal proceedings, even years after entering the US.
ICE Takes Man Into Custody After Fatal DUI — What Happened
On April 20, 2026, ICE agents arrested Kelvin Mejia-Romero, a Honduran national, right after he walked out of the Northwest Correctional Complex near Memphis, Tennessee. He had just finished a six-year prison sentence for vehicular homicide — the killing of 66-year-old Nashville musician Samuel Dismuke Sr. on New Year's Day 2022. Mejia-Romero was driving the wrong way on Interstate 24 at 2:45 a.m. when he crashed into Dismuke's pickup truck. Police said he told them he had drunk eight or nine beers before getting behind the wheel.
Dismuke's family told local media he was on his way home after playing a gig with his band. His son said his father had two prior DUI convictions on record — and that the real number of times he drove drunk may have been higher. Mejia-Romero's most recent entry into the United States was in 2014 with an approved travel authorization. He applied for several USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) benefits in 2017 and 2018, but all applications were denied. He stayed in the country without legal status after that.
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ICE's acting ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) New Orleans Field Office Director Brian Acuna confirmed Mejia-Romero is now in ICE custody and will remain there while the government moves forward with removal proceedings — the official legal process to deport someone from the United States. This case is part of a broader ICE enforcement effort targeting people with criminal records who are in the country without legal status.
What This Means for People in Similar Situations
If you or someone you know is undocumented and has a criminal record — even a minor one — this case is a reminder that ICE can take a person into custody immediately after release from jail or prison. Once in ICE custody, a person enters removal proceedings and may face deportation. However, everyone in removal proceedings has the right to appear before an immigration judge and present their case. You are not automatically deported the moment ICE arrests you.
What to Do
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately if you or a family member is arrested by ICE. You have the right to be represented by an attorney in immigration court — though the government will not pay for one.
- Ask about an immigration bond hearing. In many cases, a person in ICE custody can ask an immigration judge to set a bond (a payment that allows release while the case continues). Lawyers recommend requesting this hearing as soon as possible.
- Do not ignore removal proceedings. If you receive a notice to appear in immigration court, you must show up. Missing your hearing can result in an automatic removal order issued against you.
- If your USCIS applications were denied in the past, talk to a lawyer about whether any new options exist — such as asylum, cancellation of removal, or other forms of relief — before your court date.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Bond Hearing: How to Get Released”.
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When someone is taken into ICE custody after serving a criminal sentence, the clock moves fast — lawyers recommend requesting a bond hearing within the first few days to fight for release while the removal case proceeds. A prior denial of USCIS applications does not necessarily close all doors; defenses like withholding of removal or Convention Against Torture protection may still apply depending on the country conditions. Anyone in this situation should consult an immigration attorney before their first immigration court hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE arrest someone the moment they leave prison?
Yes. ICE can — and often does — wait outside a jail or prison and take a person into custody immediately after their release. This is called a 'jail release' arrest. It is legal and has become more common under current enforcement priorities.
What happens after ICE arrests someone? Do they get deported right away?
Not automatically. After an ICE arrest, the person enters removal proceedings (the formal legal process to decide if someone will be deported). They have the right to appear before an immigration judge. Deportation only happens after a judge issues a removal order — or if the person misses their court hearing.
If all my USCIS applications were denied before, can I still fight deportation?
Possibly. A past USCIS denial does not mean every option is gone. In immigration court, you may be able to apply for different types of relief — such as asylum, cancellation of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture. A lawyer can review your specific situation and tell you what may apply.
What is an immigration bond hearing and how do I request one?
An immigration bond hearing is a court session where an immigration judge decides whether to release you from ICE custody while your case continues — and at what price (the bond amount). You or your lawyer can request this hearing after you are taken into ICE custody. If the judge sets a bond and you pay it, you can be released until your next court date.