A pair of Minnesota teenagers were killed in a car crash which occurred near Madison, Wis., around midnight on July 20. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since lodged an arrest detainer for Noelia A. Martinez (aka Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila) in connection with the crash.
“Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them—and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila—a criminal illegal alien from Honduras,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Martinez-Avila recklessly drove the wrong way on a highway while intoxicated and killed these two teens.”
According to the criminal complaint in the case, law enforcement responded to a freeway crash in Dane County near Madison. Officers found a white Chevrolet Suburban in flames with several open and unopened cans of bar near the passenger seat. Another vehicle, a Volkswagen Tiguan, had also sustained significant damage.
Helgeson, an 18-year-old woman from Montevideo, Minn., was found in the passenger seat of the Volkswagen. She was pronounced dead two hours after the crash. Heiling, a 19-year-old man from Clara City, Minn., was severely injured and airlifted to a hospital. He later died from his injuries.
Per court documents, a state trooper interviewed the driver of the white Chevrolet who was identified as Martinez. During that interview, Martinez said she thought she was in Portage, Wis. Portage is north of Madison and outside Dane County.
The state trooper reported that he smelled intoxicants coming from Martinez and observed glassy eyes. According to the trooper, Martinez initially said she had not consumed drugs or alcohol but later said she drank “8 hours ago” and had “about two drinks.” She said those drinks were Modelo beers and said she was not drinking while driving.
The criminal complaint says Martinez failed a field sobriety test and provided a preliminary breath test sample. The results of that sample showed a .208. Multiple witnesses later told authorities that the white Chevrolet was driving on the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with the Volkswagen.
At the time of the crash, Martinez’s “privilege to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Wisconsin was under revocation.”
Martinez has been charged with six felonies and three misdemeanors, including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Martinez is currently being held in the Dane County Jail.
On Sunday, ICE announced it lodged an arrest detainer for Martinez.
“ICE has lodged an arrest detainer to remove this public safety threat from the U.S.,” said McLaughlin regarding Martinez. “Unfortunately, this sanctuary jurisdiction has a history of not honoring ICE arrest detainers often leading to the release of murderers and other heinous criminals. Under Secretary Noem, these precious victims will not be forgotten, and we will fight for justice.”
Alpha News reached out to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office to ask if the agency will honor the ICE detainer. The agency responded with a statement from Sheriff Kalvin Barrett.
“The Department of Homeland Security is aware of who is in our custody and when that person will be released,” said Sheriff Barrett. “In accordance with the U.S. Constitution, it is their responsibility to obtain and present an arrest warrant signed by a judge. A judicial warrant ensures they can lawfully take custody of the individual.”
Barrett was appointed sheriff of Dane County by Democratic Governor Tony Evers in 2021. Shortly after President Donald Trump took office in January, Barrett withdrew his agency from a federal program which paid law enforcement agencies for costs associated with incarcerating criminal illegal aliens.
“Supporting crime victims remains one of our highest priorities,” added the sheriff. “They deserve their opportunity for justice, and if an individual is found guilty, they should be held accountable through our court system. Deporting someone before they face trial allows them to evade that accountability—it’s essentially a ‘get out of jail free’ card.”
A media inquiry to Martinez’s attorney was not immediately returned.
This story has been updated with a statement from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
