Federal immigration authorities have confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on a woman charged in connection with a July 13 crash in Danbury, Connecticut, that killed an off-duty Bridgeport police officer and his longtime girlfriend, as reported by Fox News.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Monday that ICE lodged a detainer against Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero, 27, of Stamford, after she was arrested following the crash that killed Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside, 38, and Brittany Islami, 34.

DHS said Ramirez-Romero is in the United States illegally and is facing multiple criminal charges related to the crash.

"Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero is a criminal illegal alien with charges for Vehicular Manslaughter and DUI. On July 26, 2026, ICE lodged a detainer against her," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

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DHS also posted on X regarding the case and called on Connecticut officials to cooperate with ICE if Ramirez-Romero is released from state custody.

Ramirez-Romero faces two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, traveling unreasonably fast, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

According to Danbury police, the crash occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m. on July 13 on Sugar Hollow Road. Investigators said a Jeep Compass and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided head-on.

Police responding to the scene found Whiteside and Islami deceased. Whiteside was an off-duty Bridgeport police officer, and Islami was his passenger. Ramirez-Romero was transported to Danbury Hospital with serious injuries following the crash.

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Whiteside, a Danbury native, had wanted to become a police officer since childhood, according to the Bridgeport Police Department. He graduated third in his police academy class and had served with the department for two years before his death.

Following the crash, the Bridgeport Police Department issued a statement mourning Whiteside's death and honoring his service.

The department said Whiteside "served with selfless dedication" and extended condolences to his family and loved ones.

"Rest easy, brother. We'll take it from here."

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The ICE detainer announcement came as Connecticut officials addressed misinformation circulating online about Ramirez-Romero's voter registration status.

Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas said Ramirez-Romero has never been registered to vote in the state. Thomas said an unrelated U.S. citizen with the same name was mistakenly identified online, resulting in threats being directed toward that person.

"The defendant charged in connection with the July 13 crash that killed an off-duty Bridgeport police officer is not and has never been registered to vote in Connecticut," Thomas said.

"The voter registration record circulating online belongs to a different person entirely. Another Melissa Ramirez, a United States citizen who lives in New Britain, is legally registered to vote in Connecticut."

Danbury police also issued a warning that multiple individuals with similar names had been incorrectly identified online and urged the public to confirm information before sharing it.

Ramirez-Romero remains in custody on a $500,000 bond while awaiting her next court appearance.

The investigation and criminal proceedings remain ongoing.

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