Boise Mayor Lauren McLean is facing criticism over her statement that avoided the immigration issue when commenting on the death of an 8-year-old at the hands of an illegal alien.

Mora Gerety was trying to cross Harrison Boulevard when she was hit by a pickup truck and was killed. The truck driver was identified as Elvin Ramos-Caballero, an illegal alien from Honduras according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Ramos-Caballero was taken into ICE custody over an outstanding federal warrant.

He allegedly crossed the Texas border as an accompanied minor in 2015 and was released a month later into the U.S. He was given a deportation order after failing to appear in court in 2016.

While McLean offered a statement about the incident, she did not mention the immigration status of the accused.

“Every child in Boise should be able to run out their front door, safely explore their neighborhood, and make it home for dinner. I’m committed to doing all we can to ensure our city is safe for every child to walk and bike in every neighborhood.”

The Idaho Freedom Foundation slammed the mayor for her comments.

“Boise Mayor Lauren McLean’s response to Mora Gerety’s death is the most pathetic response imaginable. A little girl was killed at the hands of an illegal. No mention of her name. No mention of her killer. No mention of working to improve immigration enforcement. Ridiculous.”

McLean had also faced criticism when she refused to follow a state law and kept displaying an LGBTQ flag at the Boise Depot.

Many in the community showed their support for the girl’s family at a vigil on Saturday.

“My son is actually the principal at Washington Elementary [where Mora attended], and it just broke my heart because his heart is broken for the family. He said Mora was just adorable, she was shy, and she was very sweet.”

The case highlights a major problem with how some Democratic mayors handle crimes committed by illegal aliens. McLean’s statement avoided any mention of immigration status even though the suspect had a deportation order and should not have been in the country.

Ramos-Caballero entered the United States as a minor nearly a decade ago. He was released into the country after just one month despite being here illegally. When he failed to appear in court in 2016, he was ordered deported but apparently never left.

This means an illegal alien with a deportation order was driving around Boise for years before killing an 8-year-old girl. The system that was supposed to remove him from the country completely failed.

The mayor’s decision not to mention these facts in her statement angered conservatives who believe she is more concerned about protecting illegal aliens than protecting American children. Her generic comments about making the city safe rang hollow to critics who noted she never even said Mora’s name.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s criticism pointed out multiple things missing from the mayor’s response. She did not name the victim, did not identify the killer, and made no mention of working with federal authorities to improve immigration enforcement in Boise.

McLean has a history of defying state law when it conflicts with her progressive values. Her refusal to remove an LGBTQ flag despite state requirements showed she is willing to ignore laws she disagrees with.

Critics argue this same attitude extends to immigration enforcement. Sanctuary city policies and officials who downplay crimes by illegal aliens create an environment where people who should have been deported years ago remain in communities where they can harm Americans.

Mora Gerety should be alive today. If immigration laws had been properly enforced, if Ramos-Caballero had been deported when ordered to leave in 2016, this 8-year-old girl would not have been killed crossing the street in her own neighborhood.

The vigil held for Mora showed how much the community cared about this little girl. The principal of her elementary school said she was adorable, shy, and very sweet. Those who knew her are heartbroken.

But the mayor’s response suggested she cares more about avoiding uncomfortable truths about illegal immigration than about addressing the real cause of this tragedy. Her statement could have been issued about any traffic accident anywhere in America.

By refusing to acknowledge that an illegal alien with a deportation order killed this child, McLean missed an opportunity to call for better immigration enforcement that could prevent future tragedies. Instead she offered empty platitudes about safe neighborhoods while ignoring the elephant in the room.

The case will likely fuel more calls for Democratic mayors to cooperate with ICE and support stronger immigration enforcement rather than protecting illegal aliens at the expense of American lives.