NEW JERSEY — Republican leaders in the state called Monday for Gov. Mikie Sherrill to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers after prosecutors charged two women in connection with a crash in Jackson that killed a 9-month-old boy.
Political pressure follows a deadly parking lot crash
The Aug. 28 collision occurred at 11:55 a.m. in the parking lot of an NPGS grocery store on West County Line Road, according to court papers. The infant, identified in court records as 9-month-old Yitzchok Rosenberg, died after being struck while in a stroller. His mother suffered a fractured left leg and his 5-year-old sister sustained scrapes, court documents said.
Within hours of court filings charging two women, the New Jersey GOP urged the governor to honor federal immigration detainers lodged by ICE. The party’s message on X (formerly Twitter) said in part that the state should not interfere when federal officials seek custody of people charged with serious crimes.
"An innocent baby is dead. A mother and another child were seriously injured," the post read.
The social media post also shared a Department of Homeland Security message criticizing federal immigration policy and urging the state to honor ICE detainers for the two women charged.
Who has been charged
Court documents identify the two women charged in the crash: Maria CobonGuzman, 20, of Guatemala, and a 22-year-old identified as Ariadna Lazaro-Flores. CobonGuzman faces manslaughter, operating a vehicle without ever having been issued a valid driver’s license while involved in a fatal crash, and two counts of assault by auto. Authorities said she was driving a friend’s car at the time of the crash; Lazaro-Flores is charged with knowingly engaging in conduct contributing to the incident.
| Person | Age | Allegations |
|---|---|---|
| Yitzchok Rosenberg | 9 months (victim) | Died from crash injuries |
| Maria CobonGuzman | 20 | Manslaughter; driving without ever having a valid license; two counts assault by auto |
| Ariadna Lazaro-Flores | 22 | Charged with knowingly engaging in conduct contributing to crash |
Governor's office has not responded
A spokesperson for Gov. Sherrill’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday evening. The state has a long-running practice of balancing cooperation with federal immigration authorities against local policies and concerns about community policing and public safety.
Advocates for honoring ICE detainers argue such cooperation removes dangerous individuals from communities; opponents say detainers can undermine public-safety goals by discouraging immigrants from reporting crimes or cooperating with police.
Local impact and next steps
Jackson residents and the family of the victims face the immediate aftermath of a fatal crash that occurred in a public shopping area. The charges filed in court will determine how prosecutors pursue the case, and whether federal immigration holds proceed will be a separate administrative and legal matter.
- Prosecutors are handling criminal charges connected to the crash.
- ICE has reportedly issued detainers for the two women; state leaders are debating compliance.
- Gov. Sherrill’s office had not provided a public response by Monday evening.
State Republicans framed the incident as an example of broader immigration enforcement failures, echoing a Department of Homeland Security social media post that tied the crash to national border policy. The DHS post described the issue in stark terms and urged New Jersey to honor the detainers.
How the governor responds will influence the public conversation across New Jersey, where immigration enforcement and public-safety policy remain flashpoints. The matter could also involve legal questions about the authority and enforcement of ICE detainers in state jurisdictions.
Jackson police and state authorities continue their investigation. Court records remain the primary public source for the identities of those charged and the alleged offenses. Any developments in the criminal case or in the state’s handling of federal detainers will be watched closely by lawmakers, activists and the community where the crash occurred.
Reporting for this story was based on court documents and statements posted publicly by political accounts and federal agencies; the governor’s office had not issued a statement as of Monday night.
Rohan Iyer, WE NEWS
