Father of Marine Killed in 2017 Hit‑and‑Run Calls for ICE Action as Driver Faces Third Deportation

Martin Martinez‑Ballinas, a 38‑year‑old Mexican national, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 22 after completing a federal prison term for illegally reentering the United States. He now faces a third deportation. Martinez‑Ballinas was convicted for a 2017 hit‑and‑run crash in Maryland that killed 21‑year‑old U.S. Marine James Ray Walden III, an intelligence analyst who had worked for the National Security Agency.

Walden’s father has spoken publicly, describing his son as “just starting his life” and criticizing calls to abolish ICE. He noted that Martinez‑Ballinas had previously been deported in 2020, re‑entered the country, and was removed again in 2022, but continued to evade detection. The father’s remarks highlight ongoing debates over immigration enforcement and the consequences of repeat illegal re‑entries.