Seven-year-old Ivory Smith tragically lost her life in a late-night drunk driving accident caused by Joel Enrique Gonzalez Chacin, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, just two and a half months after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lifted a hold against him, according to court documents.

The family of 7-year-old Ivory Smith is demanding justice after an illegal who was driving drunk in Texas plowed into another car, k*lling Ivory and severely injuring her mother who is in the hospital in critical condition.

Ivory was an only child. Her mother is now fighting for… pic.twitter.com/PfiBJ2qkNp

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 4, 2024

Chacin, 41, had been detained earlier this year following an arrest for assaulting a family member in June, Fox 26 Houston reported. While initially charged with felony assault, the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor. After pleading guilty, Chacin was sentenced to 113 days in jail, which he had already served, and was released the same day. For reasons not disclosed, the ICE detainer against him was also removed upon his release.

The fatal incident occurred at 2:45 a.m. in north Houston. Authorities confirmed that Chacin was intoxicated when he T-boned Christina Smith’s vehicle, injuring her and killing her daughter Ivory. Instead of helping the victims, police said Chacin took photographs of the crash scene and fled. Christina and her daughter were only minutes away from home when the accident happened.

Smith sustained serious injuries but has since been discharged from the hospital. Chacin was arrested for intoxicated manslaughter and is now subject to a new ICE detainer.

Ivory, who was in second grade, was remembered by her family in a heartfelt statement. “No parent should have to suffer the unbearable loss of a child, especially under circumstances that could and should have been prevented,” the family wrote, describing the tragedy as “a stark reminder that we need stronger accountability and justice to prevent further suffering for families like ours.”

Where you at BLM??

How come BLM is only loud when thugs are killed, and not innocent 7 year old little girls?

Ivory Smith was killed by an alleged drunk driver and illegal alien, Joel Enrique Gonzalez Chacin, who investigators say took pictures instead of helping, before… pic.twitter.com/oTLxGJaBqR

— Angela (@LibsBeCrazy) December 9, 2024

The family expressed frustration with the justice system, stating, “Even more troubling is the fact that this individual was released after being detained earlier this year, only to find themselves back in custody after causing irreparable harm. Why do we have holds in place if they fail to keep dangerous individuals off our streets? How can a system allow such leniency, where a person with such a record is given a chance to walk free and re-offend?”

Speaking about Ivory, the family said, “Her life, filled with innocence and joy, was taken far too soon due to the reckless actions of an individual who chose to drive under the influence.”

They vowed to advocate for change, writing, “We will continue to demand answers and advocate for change so that no other family has to endure the pain, loss, and injustice that we are experiencing. Ivory’s light and legacy deserve better, and her memory will guide us as we work toward a safer future for all.”

This tragic case highlights ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of immigration enforcement and the measures in place to prevent released individuals from committing further crimes.