Texas GOP lawmaker Chip Roy is criticizing the Biden administration, claiming its handling of border issues has fueled illegal immigration-related crimes in major Texas cities.
Recently, a 44-year-old Honduran man, Jose Freddie Rivera Mezia, allegedly shot three individuals in San Antonio. Federal immigration officials revealed that Rivera Mezia had been living in the U.S. illegally and had been deported three times previously. “There’s no significant violent crime in San Antonio that can be attributed to residents who should not be here,” Roy commented.
Representatives from districts in San Antonio argue that local communities are grappling with immigration-related crime, which they believe has intensified due to the current administration’s border policies.
In recent years, San Antonio has seen an influx of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border. Data indicates that over 37,000 immigrants came to the city in December 2022 alone. From early 2021 to the summer of 2024, more than 600,000 individuals arrived.
This surge in immigration has coincided with a rise in crime, making 2021 the deadliest year in San Antonio since the 1990s.
In another incident involving Rivera Mezia, he reportedly shot three family members, including a mother and her young son. He fled with other children but was later captured. Tragically, the mother’s 22-year-old son died in a hospital.
Authorities have charged Rivera Mezia with two counts of murder and aggravated assault. A representative from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that he has a lengthy immigration and criminal history in the U.S.
Details reveal that Rivera Mezia was first arrested in 2009, deported in 2010, and encountered by ICE multiple times thereafter, only to re-enter the U.S. illegally again.
Roy mentioned that a secure border might have helped prevent such tragedies. “Texans shouldn’t have to face crimes that are entirely preventable by securing our borders,” he stated, calling for coordinated efforts to combat crime stemming from illegal immigration.
He acknowledged the bravery of law enforcement in apprehending Rivera Mezia, expressing hope that the judicial system would hold him accountable after his prior deportations.
This shooting is just one of several recent violent incidents involving illegal immigrants in San Antonio.
A Marine veteran was severely injured, being shot by alleged illegal immigrants while on duty. His family expressed anger after learning that local authorities had permitted the suspects to remain free after previous arrests. Recently, Texas officials captured one of the state’s most wanted illegal immigrants, connected to severe crimes.
Roy has previously sought explanations regarding violent encounters involving illegal immigrants and highlighted an immigration resource center overwhelmed by thousands of individuals during the ongoing border crisis.
Under the previous administration, significant progress had been made in reducing illegal immigration. Recently, the White House celebrated a decline in illegal crossings at the southern border, with local residents expressing relief.
Despite this, crime levels in San Antonio continue to raise concerns, with reports indicating arrests of numerous foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds in the area.
