Detention Hearing for Undocumented Immigrant Accused in Fatal Lakewood Crash Delayed
Ocean County, NJ Superior Court Judge Guy Ryan has delayed the detention hearing for Raul Luna-Perez, 43, who is accused of driving drunk and causing a head-on collision that killed a 42-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter in Lakewood, NJ. The hearing was delayed after Luna-Perez's lawyers asked for more time to address immigration issues tied to the case. The Trump administration has criticized New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, for his state's sanctuary policy for undocumented immigrants, which the administration claims allowed Luna-Perez to remain in the country. Murphy has denied this, stating that Luna-Perez's immigration status was not discussed at the July 31 detention hearing, and that the state's Immigrant Trust Directive allows for cooperation with federal immigration officials regarding undocumented immigrants facing serious and violent charges.
Key Takeaways:
- Raul Luna-Perez, 43, is accused of driving drunk and causing a fatal crash in Lakewood, NJ, which killed a woman and her 11-year-old daughter.
- The Trump administration has criticized New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for his state's sanctuary policy for undocumented immigrants, which they claim allowed Luna-Perez to remain in the country.
- Luna-Perez's lawyers have asked for a delay in the detention hearing to address immigration issues tied to the case.
- The state's Immigrant Trust Directive allows for cooperation with federal immigration officials regarding undocumented immigrants facing serious and violent charges.
- Luna-Perez has two prior arrests for drunken driving charges and was the subject of a 2023 domestic violence complaint that was later withdrawn.
- New Jersey's bail reform law requires prosecutors to argue to a judge that defendants in some criminal cases should be jailed before trial.
- Luna-Perez's blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the crash.
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Statistics:
- 2 counts each of vehicular homicide and assault by auto against Luna-Perez.
- 2 counts each of aggravated manslaughter and strict liability vehicular homicide against Luna-Perez.
- Police say Luna-Perez's blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the crash (0.25 blood alcohol content).
- The Immigrant Trust Directive allows for cooperation with federal immigration officials regarding undocumented immigrants facing serious and violent charges.
- Luna-Perez has two prior arrests for drunken driving charges.
- 2023 domestic violence complaint against Luna-Perez that was later withdrawn.
- 42-year-old woman and 11-year-old daughter killed in the fatal crash.
Sources:
- (https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/08/11/judge-rejected-request-to-detain-immigrant-at-center-of-fight-between-trump-governor/)
- (https://www.redbankgreen.com/2025/07/red-bank-lakewood-fatal-dwi/)
- (https://newjerseymonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/08132025-Raul-Luna-Perez-2823-scaled.jpg)
- Cristina LiBassi of the state Office of the Public Defender
- Department of Homeland Security spokesperson