Congressman Van Drew Confirms Drunk Illegal Immigrant Caused Crash That Seriously Injured South Jersey Police Officer

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew announced that, according to information confirmed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local officials, the suspected drunk driver who struck and seriously injured Middle Township Police Officer Austin Kapurelos on Friday night is an illegal immigrant with an active ICE detainer. "I know Austin and his family personally, and they are good, hardworking South Jersey people. Austin is a fine young man who proudly serves his community and his country, and now he is lying in a hospital bed with serious injuries after being hit by a drunk driver who was in this country illegally," said Congressman Van Drew. "I have had enough of this. Just weeks ago, a baby was killed in a New Jersey parking lot by an unlicensed driver who was in this country illegally. Then a six-year-old girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a man who should have been deported. Now we have a young South Jersey police officer fighting to recover from devastating injuries. When is enough enough? "Meanwhile, Governor Sherrill has committed more than $20 million in taxpayer money to a legal defense fund to keep illegal immigrants facing deportation in this country, while families like Austin's are left dealing with the consequences of failed immigration policies," Congressman Van Drew continued. "It is completely backwards. I am calling on Cape May County Sheriff Nolan to work with ICE and ensure this individual is turned over to federal authorities, and I have no doubt the Sheriff will because he is a good man who believes in upholding the law. We cannot keep allowing preventable tragedies like this to happen to innocent people in New Jersey." "If this man hadn't been here illegally, Austin would be sitting on the couch with his wife in their new home right now, not lying in a hospital bed," said Tony Kapurelos, Austin's father. "They just got married. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and instead of enjoying this time together, Austin is recovering from surgery, and we're all praying he'll be okay. My family knows what it means to come to America the right way. We believe in this country and its laws. What happened to Austin never should have happened, and I don't want another family to have to go through this." "Ptl. Austin Kapurelos was doing his job, protecting the people of Middle Township, when he was struck and critically injured. Our entire community is praying for Austin, his wife, and his family. The charges in this case should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of New Jersey law, and the federal detainer should be honored so this individual is turned over to ICE when the state is done with him. There should be no limitations on cooperation when it comes to keeping dangerous drivers off our roads. I am also calling on our leaders in Trenton to sit down with New Jersey's law enforcement community and make real changes to the Immigrant Trust law that improve the safety of every resident in this state. Our officers and every family in New Jersey deserve a system that puts public safety first," said Middle Township Mayor Christopher M. Leusner.