Sanders Releases Statement After Violent Criminal Illegal Kills Two in Drunk Driving Accident

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today released a statement on the arrest of Jose Luis Gamez, a violent illegal immigrant who killed two motorcyclists in Avoca, Arkansas.

"Every day that Senate Democrats delay funding for DHS is another day that immigration officials cannot operate at full capacity and apprehend the violent, criminal illegals hurting our communities," said Governor Sanders. "I'm grateful to Arkansas State Police for arresting this criminal and thankful that President Trump is working quickly to deport violent, criminal illegals. This is why I signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act last year: to get these violent offenders off our streets and out of our country."

"This tragedy was entirely preventable. Our Troopers acted swiftly to apprehend a dangerous individual who should never have been on Arkansas roads in the first place. We remain committed to protecting Arkansans and working to ensure violent offenders are identified, detained, and removed from our communities," said Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar.

On Thursday, March 26, Arkansas State Police Troop L was alerted to a double fatality crash on Highway 62 in Avoca, Arkansas, involving a motorcycle and a Chevrolet Tahoe. The collision resulted in the deaths of both motorcycle occupants, the driver, Michael Cordes, 70, and Freda Cordes, 67, both of Rogers. The couple was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the driver of the Tahoe, Jose Luis Gamez, was not injured.

During the investigation, troopers suspected Gamez of being intoxicated and conducted a Standardized Field Sobriety Test and blood draw, which indicated that he was driving under the influence. Troopers then obtained video of the crash that showed Gamez failing to yield to oncoming traffic, resulting in the collision with the motorcycle.

Further investigation revealed that Gamez had a confirmed nationwide felony warrant out of Los Angeles County, California.

Gamez was arrested on two counts of negligent homicide and DWI and taken to the Benton County Detention Center, where he was placed on hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Information on the crash victims is not being released at this time as officials make next-of-kin notifications.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act in 2025. The legislation enhanced penalties for illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes while in Arkansas, expanded Arkansas' sanctuary city ban to include unincorporated areas and counties, and mandated Arkansas law enforcement participate in the 287(g) program to enhance cooperation with federal immigration officials.

In September 2025, Governor Sanders announced that the Arkansas National Guard would assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement with immigration enforcement in Arkansas under the Title 32 Program. In 2024, Governor Sanders sent 40 Arkansas National Guardsmen to the southern border to assist Texas law enforcement. In the summer of 2023, Governor Sanders sent 80 Arkansas National Guardsmen to the border and, along with state legislators, went to the border to visit those guardsmen. In response to President Biden's failure to secure the southern border, Governor Sanders visited the border a second time in February 2024 with other Republican Governors to highlight their efforts to help secure the border.

In January 2025, Arkansas State Police arrested Luis Danielle Valdez-Reyes, a violent illegal immigrant who was on the run after striking an Arkansas State Trooper. In November 2024, Arkansas State Police arrested Elias Avila Bustillo, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador wanted in his home country for illegal gang association. Governor Sanders joined Arkansas State Police in September 2024 to mourn the death of Little Rock nurse Jennifer Ann Morton, who was killed in a drunk driving accident by illegal immigrant Maynor Yair Sorto-Herrera.

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