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He was booked into the Polk County Jail on multiple charges: DUI with property damage, DUI, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and driving without a license.
But the case did not stop there.
Florida Law Elevates Charges for Illegal Immigration Status
Under Florida’s charge enhancement statute, Sandobal-Lopez’s immigration status triggered automatic upgrades to his criminal charges. What would typically be misdemeanor-level offenses were elevated by one degree due to his unlawful presence in the United States.
That means the DUI with property damage was elevated to a third-degree felony, while the remaining charges were enhanced to first-degree misdemeanors.
He remains in custody at the Polk County Jail pending transfer to federal immigration authorities.
Sheriff Grady Judd did not hold back in his assessment of the incident or its potential consequences.
“Our illegal guest from Nicaragua could have very easily injured someone, or destroyed a family while driving drunk – fortunately it was only a fence he destroyed,” Judd said.
“And then he cowardly walked away from the scene and responsibility.”
Judd also emphasized how Florida law is structured to respond to cases like this.
“In Florida, if you’re committing the crime of being here illegally, your other criminal charges are enhanced one degree; he’s now facing a serious felony because he caused damage to property while driving under the influence.”
A Pattern of Enforcement in Polk County
The arrest is not an isolated incident for Polk County, where Sheriff Judd has repeatedly highlighted similar cases involving illegal immigrants arrested for DUI and other offenses.
In prior months, his office has handled multiple high-profile arrests tied to illegal immigration status, including repeat drunk driving cases, hit-and-run incidents, and coordinated enforcement operations targeting impaired drivers.
One earlier case involved illegal alien brothers arrested after being released and later picked up again for drunk driving. Another saw multiple illegal immigrants arrested for DUI over a single holiday weekend traffic enforcement sweep. In yet another incident, a Guatemalan illegal alien allegedly drove through a Walmart parking lot while intoxicated, struck a motorcyclist, and fled the scene.
Sheriff Judd’s office reported more than 500 arrests of illegal aliens in a single year, supported in part by federal-state cooperation programs such as 287(g), which allow local deputies to assist federal immigration enforcement.
DeSantis Administration Pushes Tough Enforcement Model
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a key driver behind the state’s aggressive immigration enforcement framework, including the law used to enhance charges in this case.
“In Florida, we do not tolerate illegal immigration, let alone lawlessness committed by illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here in the first place,” DeSantis said.
Supporters of the policy argue that it ensures stronger accountability for repeat offenders and prevents individuals unlawfully present in the country from receiving the same treatment as legal residents when committing additional crimes.
Critics, however, have opposed the measure, calling it overly punitive. Florida officials counter that the focus is public safety and preventing repeat dangerous behavior on state roads.
“Meet ICE” Enforcement Message Continues
Sheriff Judd, who chairs the State Immigration Enforcement Council, has become one of the most vocal law enforcement figures in the state on immigration-related crime. Florida has also expanded its participation in federal 287(g) agreements significantly in recent years, increasing cooperation between local jails and ICE.
Judd summarized the enforcement philosophy bluntly following the arrest:
“Drive drunk, get arrested – be here illegally, meet ICE.”
As Sandobal-Lopez awaits federal transfer, Florida officials say the case is another example of how state-level enforcement is reshaping how immigration-related crime is handled—particularly when it intersects with public safety threats like impaired driving.
