Advocates say focus on immigration status overshadows victims in fatal Oklahoma crash

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said drunk driving caused the deaths of four young people in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 40 last Friday, but the driver’s immigration status has become a central focus. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter"We asked ICE to put a detainer on him. ICE issued a warrant for his arrest for being here illegally, as well as put a detainer on him. Our goal is, this person should never see freedom in the United States," Department of Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton said during a news conference Wednesday. The driver, a Tennessee man, was in Oklahoma for work and is a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.DACA allows certain undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to temporarily avoid deportation, though it does not provide citizenship. Tipton also highlighted efforts by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety through Operation Guardian. "Very proactive enforcement against commercial vehicle drivers who are untrained, here illegally, as well as other targeted enforcement on criminal illegal aliens," Tipton said. Fernando Baquera Ochoa, a DACA recipient and community advocate, said some of the statements made during the press conference require more context. "Not all DACA recipients came into the country illegally. There is a work authorization connected with DACA, and deferred action protects us from deportation," Ochoa said. WATCH: OHP officials give update on deadly wrong-way crash on I-40 in OklahomaHe expressed concern that the focus on the driver's immigration status detracts from the families mourning their loved ones. "It's not about me. It's not about my status. It's about these families that are being affected," Ochoa said. "The spotlight has become his legal status and not justice for these families and justice for these victims, which is terrible." "In the same press conference, he mentions there's about 200 individuals who die in Oklahoma per year due to impaired drivers. In this unfortunate case, four individuals are no longer here. Out of the other 196, how many of them were by undocumented people? How many of those people were U.S. citizens?" Ochoa said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has not yet responded to requests for additional comment or data.Top HeadlinesSuspect dead after Moore police chase ends with TVI, shots fired near I-35 in Norman5 villagers stuck in flooded Laos cave for more than a week found alive, 2 still missingPolice investigate deadly shooting at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complexSeasoning sold at Walmart recalled nationwide over salmonella riskDPS: Man accused of causing deadly wrong-way crash on I-40 did not have legal immigration status