The Trump administration is taking decisive action to block the early release of Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, an illegal immigrant who killed two teenagers while driving drunk and high at nearly 100mph in 2021.
Key Takeaways
- California Governor Gavin Newsom has agreed to help the Trump administration pursue federal charges against Ortega-Anguiano, who was previously deported in 2013 before re-entering illegally.
- Despite receiving a 10-year sentence in 2022 for killing teens Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin, Ortega-Anguiano is set to be released after serving just three years.
- ICE has issued a detainer for Ortega-Anguiano, and federal prosecutors have filed charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the administration “will not tolerate illegal immigrant crime” and is committed to enforcing immigration laws.
- Families of the victims have expressed outrage over the early release, calling it a “slap in the face” to their lost loved ones.
Trump Administration Takes Stand Against Early Release
The Trump administration is working to prevent the early release of Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, an undocumented immigrant convicted of killing two teenagers in a 2021 drunk driving crash. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that federal prosecutors have filed immigration charges against Ortega-Anguiano, who was set to be released after serving less than a third of his 10-year sentence. The case has become a flashpoint in debates over immigration enforcement and California’s sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration officials.
In a significant development, California Governor Gavin Newsom has agreed to assist the Trump administration in pursuing federal charges against Ortega-Anguiano. The Governor’s office confirmed their cooperation in a statement posted on social media, acknowledging the severity of the crimes committed after Ortega-Anguiano’s illegal re-entry. Bilal Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, has filed felony immigration charges that could result in up to 20 additional years of imprisonment if Ortega-Anguiano is convicted.
BREAKING: Twice deported illegal with long rap sheet including felonies who kiIIed two teens while driving drunk is getting an early release thanks to woke California officials.
He was sentenced to 10 years but now California is releasing him back onto the streets after 3 years.… pic.twitter.com/lEkwwytbAU
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 23, 2025
Devastating Impact on Victims’ Families
The circumstances surrounding the 2021 crash that took the lives of 19-year-olds Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin are particularly disturbing. Reports indicate Ortega-Anguiano was driving at nearly 100 mph while under the influence of both alcohol and drugs when he crashed into the teenagers’ vehicle. The victims’ families have been vocal about their opposition to Ortega-Anguiano’s early release, which was granted through California’s rehabilitative credits program for inmates.
Anatoly Varfolomeev, father of one of the victims, shared his frustration with the justice system: “It’s disgusting. You have two young, unbelievable future, productive American citizens killed for nothing and that illegal immigrant who already has been deported twice is going to be released again? For what? If even he is deported, he will come back.”
Pavel Osokin, father of the victim Nicholay, expressed similar frustration, stating that the early release feels like “spitting in my face.” The emotional toll on these families has been compounded by what they perceive as lenient treatment of the person responsible for their children’s deaths.
Administration’s Broader Immigration Stance
Press Secretary Leavitt framed this case as emblematic of deeper problems within the immigration system that the Trump administration aims to address. She emphasized that this situation represents “everything that is wrong with our immigration system” and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has indicated they will coordinate with ICE to transfer Ortega-Anguiano before his release from state custody.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has also expressed strong opposition to the early release, emphasizing the administration’s focus on justice for the victims. Bilal Essayli, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, has already filed a felony immigration charge against Ortega-Anguiano. “My office has filed a felony immigration charge against this defendant,” Essayli posted on social media. “He faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted for 8 USC 1326,” referring to the federal statute that criminalizes reentry after deportation.
Coordination Between Federal and State Authorities
Despite California’s sanctuary state laws that generally limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, this case appears to be prompting unusual collaboration between state and federal officials. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has publicly committed to coordinating with ICE to ensure a proper transfer of custody before Ortega-Anguiano’s release from state prison.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state-level policies regarding the treatment of undocumented immigrants. While the current focus is on Ortega-Anguiano’s specific situation, the administration’s approach signals a broader commitment to pursuing immigration violations aggressively, particularly when they intersect with serious criminal offenses that impact American citizens’ safety and security.
