A Mexican national accused of running a red light and seriously injuring two motorcyclists in a metro Detroit crash was deported a year ago but returned, according to court documents.
Jose Manuel Cazarez-Pulido, 33, now faces a federal charge for illegally reentering the country after having been previously removed, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eastern District of Michigan shared in a news release.
Cazarez-Pulido was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Waterford, Michigan, after officers learned he was ordered removed and deported in 2025.
Jose Manuel Cazarez-Pulido, 33, native and citizen of Mexico, has been charged for illegally re-entering the U.S. after having been previously removed, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon for @USAO_MIE announced yesterday.
This illegal alien was driving a Chrysler Town and Country van… pic.twitter.com/k9euE5aOc2
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) July 10, 2026
“Illegal aliens continue to break American laws and threaten American lives,” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. said. “The only sure way to prevent these crimes is to keep them out of our country.”
An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in February 2025 after Cazaez-Pulido was arrested in Otay Mesa, California, and found to be an illegal alien, his federal court file states. He was removed from the United States three days later through San Luis, Arizona, The Oakland Press reported.
According to police reports, Cazarez-Pulido was driving a minivan when he allegedly ran a red light and smashed into a motorcycle, seriously injuring the two riders, FOX 2 Detroit reported.
The crash occurred around 2 p.m. July 1 at the intersection of N. Hospital Road and Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford, The Oakland Press reported.
The two motorcyclists, a 64-year-old Waterford man and a 71-year-old Sterling Heights woman, were critically injured in the crash. They were riding a 2000 Harley Davidson, police said.
Officers from the Waterford Police Department responded to the scene and found an open Budweiser beer bottle on the passenger floorboard of the minivan.
According to officers, Cazarez-Pulido did not appear intoxicated at the time of the accident. It’s unclear if they conducted field sobriety tests.
Cazarez-Pulido was arrested at the scene and received citations for leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, disobeying a red traffic signal and open alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Border Patrol Agents took him into custody after Waterford Police Department contacted them to help identify the driver, subsequently found to be Cazarez-Pulido. They later determined he was an illegal immigrant who was previously deported.
The Oakland County Prosecutor Office hasn’t made a decision on charges against Cazarez-Pulido for the traffic crash, The Oakland Press reported.
He appeared in federal court in Detroit on July 8 related to the illegal reentry charge, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
He waived his right to a detention hearing, although he can request one at a future date, per The Oakland Press. Court records also show he waived his right to prosecution by grand jury indictment. A federal court trial date hasn’t been scheduled.
U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr. noted that Cazarez-Pulido’s illegal reentry into the country “not only violated our laws but also led to a tragic incident where two individuals were critically injured.”
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative focused on deterring illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
“This case underscores the critical importance of our mission to secure the border and protect our communities,” Geronimo said. “We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners, like the Waterford Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to ensure that those who illegally re-enter the United States and endanger our citizens are held accountable.”
