A previously deported illegal immigrant is accused of taking the life of a young father while driving drunk in a stolen Audi the wrong way down a North Texas highway.
The incident has reignited debates over immigration enforcement and public safety, particularly concerning individuals who illegally re-enter the United States after deportation. Wrong-way crashes are among the most deadly types of highway accidents, and when combined with intoxication and vehicle theft, they raise serious questions about criminal behavior and immigration policy enforcement.
Alexander Nunez, 26, allegedly struck a vehicle carrying Kenan Ellis and two of his cousins shortly before midnight on September 3 on Highway 67 in Duncanville. Ellis had recently celebrated his 29th birthday.
Highway 67 is a major thoroughfare in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, carrying thousands of vehicles daily through residential and commercial districts. Wrong-way collisions on such highways typically occur late at night and are disproportionately linked to impaired driving, making them particularly devastating for unsuspecting motorists traveling in the correct direction.
Ellis was returning home from a music video shoot for popular rapper BigXThaPlug when the crash occurred, his uncle, Xavier Hicks, told The Daily Wire. The rapper was driving close behind.
Ellis is survived by his 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, if you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.”
Federal authorities previously deported Nunez, who later illegally re-entered the United States without being encountered at the border, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman confirmed.
The circumstances surrounding Nunez’s ability to re-enter the country undetected underscore ongoing challenges in border security and the monitoring of previously deported individuals. When individuals evade border checkpoints, they bypass screening processes designed to identify those with criminal histories or prior deportations, creating potential public safety risks that can go unaddressed for extended periods.
Nunez faces charges of intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He is being held in the Dallas County Jail on a $110,000 bond.
The combination of charges reflects the severity of the alleged incident and the multiple criminal violations involved. Intoxication manslaughter carries significant prison time under Texas law, while the unauthorized vehicle use adds another dimension to the criminal conduct allegedly occurring that night.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement also lodged a detainer in the case, asking local authorities to transfer him to federal custody if they release him.
ICE detainers are a standard tool used by federal immigration authorities to ensure that individuals who are in the country illegally face potential removal proceedings. Such detainers have been the subject of policy debates in jurisdictions across the country, with some local governments choosing to honor them while others have adopted so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
When Hicks learned of Nunez’s previous deportation, he reacted with one word: “Wow.”
“Honestly and truthfully, that’s unfortunate. But my faith keeps telling me that it was God’s timing,” Hicks said. “I hold no malice in my heart for Alexander Nunez.”
Ellis’ cousins were left with multiple broken bones. One is expected to be in a wheelchair for several months, according to Fox 4. Both are expected to recover.
The three men were roughly five minutes from home when the crash occurred.
The proximity to home makes the tragedy particularly poignant for the family, as Ellis and his cousins were moments away from safely concluding what had been a productive evening of creative work. Such near-miss circumstances often compound the grief experienced by surviving family members.
Authorities determined that Nunez was intoxicated after he failed field sobriety tests, Fox 4 reported.
Ellis’ sister, Siniya Allen, described her late brother as “a great dad,” “an amazing brother,” and “an amazing son.”
“He was there for all his friends. He was just a great person,” she told Fox 4.
“He took something important from us. I lost a brother. My mom lost a son. I have another brother. He lost his sibling. His kids have to grow up without a dad. No kid should have to do that at the expense of somebody else’s actions.”
Allen said the accused’s alleged actions left her family with an overwhelming loss.
The ripple effects of such incidents extend across multiple generations, affecting not only immediate family members but also Ellis’ young children, who will grow up without their father’s presence at key life milestones. The emotional and psychological impact on families dealing with sudden, preventable losses can persist for years.
The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.
