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Ramon Jaime Horta: Illegal Immigrant Deported Six Times Accused Of Fatal Hit And Run In Santa Ana

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 15:01 PST, Nov 8, 2015

Ramon Jaime Horta was deported from the United States six times, but still the Mexican national was somehow able to come back into the country and is now accused of a hit and run accident that left a man dead.

Horta (who was identified in some other reports as Ramon Horta-Jaime) was arrested this week and charged with killing Marcello Bisarello. Police said Hort did not have a valid license and was under the influence when he struck and killed the man in Santa Ana, then fled the scene.

Police caught up with Horta a few blocks later after a witness saw him allegedly flee the scene of the fatal accident. The witness, identified as Cesar Guzman, reportedly chased the suspect down, honking his horn and ultimately using his own vehicle to trap Horta and prevent his escape.

In Horta’s car police allegedly found open beer containers, the OC Register reported.

Now Ramon Jaime Horta’s long history with the law has come to light. He was convicted in 2001 of possession of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license, NBC Los Angeles reported, leading to a nine month stint in jail and his first deportation.

But Horta couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble after that initial arrest. He was deported four other times — in 2002, 2006, 2009, and 2012 — the report found, and during that time racked up convictions for drug possession, battery, and a number of other offenses.

The arrest of Ramon Jaime Horta has led to outrage in Southern California, with many angry at police and immigration officials for allowing him to return to the United States despite his constant trouble with the law.

The case is also reminiscent of another controversial case. Back in August, Victor Aureliano Martinez Ramirez was charged in a fatal attack on 64-year-old Marilyn Pharis. Police said Martinez broke into Pharis’s home with a hammer on July 24, then sexually assaulted and ultimately killed her.

The details of the case were brutal, and they led many to criticize officials for allowing Ramirez to remain in the country despite his many convictions.

Santa Maria police chief Ralph Martin said the terrible killing could have been avoided if state and federal officials were more strict on illegal immigrants.

“I think this is a national issue – it starts with administration and their policies,” Martin said after Pharis died from the attack (via Fox News). “You can draw a direct line to this governor and legislature.”

“I am not remiss to say that from Washington, DC, to Sacramento, there is a blood trail to Marilyn Pharis’ bedroom,” he added.

As Fox News reported, authorities had a chance to deport Martinez, who had been arrested six times, but did not.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement admitted in a statement it did not issue an immigration detainer, which would have led to deportation, for Ramirez following the most recent arrest. The agency said its decision was ‘based on the agency’s enforcement priorities after a thorough review of his case history showed he had no prior deportations or felony criminal convictions.'”

There have been other troubling cases. In San Francisco, illegal immigrant Francisco Sanchez was arrested for the shooting death of Kathryn Steinle, which police said appeared to be a random attack.

Ramon Jaime Horta is scheduled to be arraigned on December 4 for his hit-and-run charges. He is being held without bail.

[Image via Santa Ana Police Department]

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