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According to Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, DC, the death of Anthony Moore at the hands of Mario Alberto Saucedo is a perfect example of why changes are needed in the deportation program called Secure "Saucedo had at least two prior charges for DUI and a probation violation, but prosecutors had declined to pursue convictions, or charge Saucedo with the criminal offense of unlicensed driving in the prior offenses, enabling him to escape the ICE attention that could have saved the little boy's life if he had been removed promptly when first brought to the attention of police and prosecuting authorities," Vaughan said.

The day after his arrest by the FHP last May, ICE put a detainer on Saucedo because he had been identified as a Mexican national. Although he could have faced felony charges of driving without a license and causing death or serious injury, and driving with an expired license for more than six months, court records show he was given a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license.

Walter Forgie, an assistant state attorney in charge of the Lake County prosecutor's office, said this week the decision to charge Saucedo with a misdemeanor "had nothing to do with Saucedo's immigration status or ICE in any way, shape or form."

Forgie said a review of the FHP investigation and interviews with witnesses indicated that Moore may have been at fault. In fact, one witness said the boy "ran across the street to retrieve an orange and did not see the oncoming vehicle."

A memo from Forgie about the State Attorney's Office decision to not pursue further charges against Saucedo, written in June, said "the State of Florida could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant caused the death of the deceased."

Saucedo's was convicted of driving without a license on July 14 and released from the Lake County jail one week later. Jail documents say he was turned over to the custody of ICE, which deported him to Mexico.

Craig Moore, Anthony's father, said the family is still upset that Saucedo was not charged with anything other than driving with a suspended license. He says he feels the State Attorney's Office did a poor job pursuing the charges that could have been levied against Saucedo.

"That he (Saucedo) was deported is something, but not really," Craig Moore said. "We still feel like he should have been charged, being that he broke several laws."

Secure Communities has been criticized for not sticking to its original goals. Vaughan, who has a master's degree in government from Georgetown University, said the program needs to identify system breakdowns and correct policy or procedure gaps.

The task force plans to continue looking at ways to improve information sharing between Secure Communities and other agencies, and to prioritize enforcement actions to ensure apprehension and removal of dangerous criminal aliens.

"It's really a shame and it just seems that the DA had no desire to pursue it at all," Craig Moore said. "Someone dropped the ball."

I am just speechless..