Immigrant charged in kid's death bonds out

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The illegal immigrant, whose nephew died when she left him in her hot car this summer, will be allowed to stay in the country.

This comes after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials allowed her to post a bond.

On Thursday, ICE officials confirmed that Sandra Rodriguez Miramontes is no longer in their custody and has been allowed to post a bond and stay in the country, at least until her trial.

Rodriguez Miramontes was indicted in August for leaving her 2-year-old nephew in a hot car for eight hours outside the Albuquerque day care where she worked. She had been locked up at the Metro Detention Center for about 45 days.

Even after a judge lowered her bond so she could get out of jail for just $500, the aunt chose to stay behind bars.

KRQE News 13 learned she posted her court bond on the Sept. 19 and then was allowed to post a bond with ICE and walk out of the Metropolitan Detention Center two days later.

ICE officials said there are some bond programs that illegal immigrants, who have pending criminal cases, are allowed to enter.

Rodriguez Miramontes is charged with child abuse resulting in death. If convicted she could get 30 years.

The District Attorney’s Office just learned about the ICE release Thursday afternoon and discounted the possibility Rodriguez Miramontes is a flight risk.

“The defendant has strong ties to the Albuquerque area," a spokesperson said in a statement released to KRQE News 13.