Sanders, Col. Hagar Release Statements After Illegal Immigrant Kills Little Rock Nurse

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today joined Arkansas State Police in mourning the death of Little Rock nurse Jennifer Ann Morton, who was killed by illegal immigrant Maynor Yair Sorto-Herrera.

Herrera, a Honduras native, was driving drunk in the early morning of September 8^th, when he drove his vehicle into Morton, a respiratory therapist in the Infant Toddler Unit at Arkansas Children's Hospital. He has been charged with Negligent Homicide, Battery, DUI, Violation of the Concealed Weapons Act, Reckless Driving, Driving Without a License, Failure to Stop After Accident with Death, and other traffic violations.

Herrera is currently being held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was previously deported from the United States in 2018.

"I am devastated for the loss of nurse Jennifer Ann Morton. Our state will feel the loss of this woman's life and sends its prayers and sympathies to her entire family," said Governor Sanders. "We will use every tool available to prosecute the illegal immigrant who caused this senseless death, but let's be clear: he never should have been in this country to begin with. President Biden and Vice President Harris opened our borders wide. It's time for the federal government to step up, close the border, and end the mayhem in our communities."

"Our hearts are heavy for the Morton family as they are devastated by the loss of Jennifer, who devoted her life to compassionate care of children," said Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar. "I know our Troopers want to honor her memory by doing their part to make sure this man is held responsible for her death."

Governor Sanders previously deployed Arkansas National Guardsmen to the southern border to assist Texas law enforcement as they dealt with a surge in illegal immigration. She deployed 80 guardsmen in the summer of 2023 and 40 guardsmen in the spring of 2024.