Washington Post

’07 deaths of teens fuel policies on immigrants

Tipping Point For Outrage
In Hampton Roads Area, ’07 Deaths of Teens Fuel Policies on Immigrants

Ray Tranchant, above, visits the grave of daughter Tessa in Virginia Beach. Tessa Tranchant and Alison Kunhardt were killed when a drunk driver, Alfredo Ramos, left, slammed into their car last year. Ramos, 22, was in the country illegally. (Photos By Bill Tiernan — The Virginian-pilot)

Tessa Tranchant, 16, left, and Alison Kunhardt, 17, died in a crash. (Family Photo)

(Photo By Bill Tiernan/the Virginian-pilot – Photo By Bill Tiernan/the Virginian-pilot)

Britney McIntyre, left, Emily Renvyle, Tiffany Cynar, Nicole Page and Lauren Cash, all students at Floyd E. Kellam High School, console one another March 31, 2007, at the scene of the car collision that killed their friend and classmate Tessa Tranchant and First Colonial High student Alison Kunhardt a day earlier. (Photo By Genevieve Ross — The Virginian-pilot)

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By Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 5, 2008; Page B01

VIRGINIA BEACH

…The catalyst was a tragedy that roiled the Hampton Roads [Va.] area and triggered stiffer local policies on illegal immigrants. In March 2007, the Tranchants’ daughter Tessa, 16, and her best friend, Alison Kunhardt, 17, were killed in a car crash caused by a drunk driver who had a police record and was in the country illegally.

HERE