Child’s murder prompts travel ban on South American country
Republican lawmakers are demanding a halt to Venezuelan migration in the United States following the tragic murder of a 12-year-old girl in Texas, allegedly committed by two Venezuelan illegal immigrants.
In a letter spearheaded by Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, concerns are raised about the infiltration of “violent criminals from Venezuela being released from prisons, embedding themselves into migrant caravans, and entering the United States.”
Nehls had previously contacted Mayorkas about reports of Venezuela releasing criminals from jails and dispatching them to the border. In February 2024, he reiterated his concerns about Venezuelan migrant gangs spreading across American cities.
The recent incident that triggered this call to action was the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas. Two illegal immigrants, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, are facing capital murder charges for luring Nungaray under a bridge, tying her up, killing her, and disposing of her body in a river.
These accused individuals were confirmed to be in the country illegally. Martinez was detained by Border Patrol in March, and Pena was apprehended in May. Both were subsequently released pending their immigration court hearings.
Republican lawmakers, led by Nehls, attribute these tragic events to the current administration’s immigration policies.
“If you had heeded the warnings in our prior letters, Jocelyn Nungaray, and others, could still be alive. That is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact,” they declared.
Therefore, they urge Mayorkas to enact a ban on Venezuelan nationals entering the U.S. and to promptly deport those who have been released awaiting immigration proceedings.
Against the backdrop of Venezuela refusing deportation flights from the U.S. and Mexico, officials are facing constraints in repatriating illegal immigrants to Venezuela. The socialist government had resumed accepting the return of migrants in October after a surge in arrivals at the U.S. border in 2023.
The letter also includes demands from other lawmakers such as Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Randy Weber, R-Texas, and Pete Stauber, R-Minn.
As the border crisis continues to be a focal point for voters in the upcoming election, the Biden administration refutes Republican criticisms, arguing that comprehensive immigration reform and increased funding are necessary to address the “broken” system.
Recent data provided by the administration shows a 50% reduction in illegal immigrant crossings since President Biden’s executive order to restrict entries into the U.S. Additionally, the number of releases has decreased by 70%, and over 50,000 individuals have been returned to more than 100 countries.
Concerns persist among lawmakers and citizens alike regarding the efficacy of current immigration policies and the need for collaborative efforts to secure the border and protect American communities from criminal activities linked to illegal immigration.
