A 24-year-old illegal immigrant is behind bars without bail after being charged in the fatal hit-and-run death of a University of South Carolina student, sparking renewed outrage over the consequences of lax immigration enforcement.
Nathanial “Nate” Baker, 21, a business major from Glen Allen, Virginia, was struck and killed on April 2 while riding his motorcycle near the intersection of Blossom and Assembly Streets in Columbia, just blocks from campus. According to police, the driver, Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, made an illegal left turn in front of Baker, crashing into him and then fleeing the scene.
Fernandez-Cruz, a native of El Salvador, was quickly apprehended and now faces multiple charges, including hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to render aid, failure to yield, and operating a vehicle without a license.
The tragedy has become even more explosive after immigration authorities confirmed that Fernandez-Cruz had been previously arrested by Border Patrol in 2016 in Hidalgo, Texas. A judge ordered him deported in 2018—but he never left the country. At the time of the crash, he was still in the U.S. illegally and was already wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Baker’s death has devastated the University of South Carolina community. A member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Nate was remembered by his brothers as “a leader, a friend, and a light in our lives.” The university has offered counseling and support services for grieving students and staff.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced his office will personally prosecute the case, vowing to hold Fernandez-Cruz fully accountable. “If you pose a threat to the people of South Carolina, this office will be coming for you,” Wilson said. “This young man’s life was stolen by someone who shouldn’t have even been here.”
The case has reignited calls for stronger border enforcement and swift deportation of individuals with outstanding removal orders. Many are demanding to know how Fernandez-Cruz, after being ordered out of the country years ago, was still living freely in the U.S.—and now stands accused of killing a promising young student with his entire future ahead of him.
Critics say this tragedy is just the latest example of what happens when federal immigration laws are ignored and local jurisdictions fail to cooperate with ICE. For many in South Carolina, this isn’t just a criminal case—it’s a wake-up call.
As the legal process unfolds, Fernandez-Cruz remains in custody without bond. Nate Baker’s family, friends, and fraternity brothers are left grieving a senseless loss that never should have happened. The question now is how many more innocent lives will be lost before America gets serious about enforcing its borders.