SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The man suspected of crashing an SUV into a State Patrol vehicle and killing the trooper inside is in the U.S. illegally.

That’s according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which says the man is a citizen of Mexico who entered the U.S. without authorization at an unknown date and time.

Immigration officials in Seattle had contacted him as far back as 2013.

ICE also reports that he has had criminal convictions in Washington state.

Those include driving with a suspended license in 2013 and 2014, marijuana possession in 2013, and domestic violence assault in 2019.

He is suspected of crashing a vehicle into Trooper Christopher Gadd’s patrol car early Saturday in Snohomish County.

He’s being held in the Snohomish County Jail on $1 million bail.

The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Seattle has lodged an immigration detainer on 32-year-old Raul Benitez Santana.

That is a request to state or local authorities to notify the federal agency before a non-citizen who is charged with criminal activity is released from custody.

A public memorial service for Trooper Gadd is planned at 1 p.m. Tuesday Mar. 12 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.