The murder of a 12-year-old girl in Texas, believed to have been committed by two illegal Venezuelan immigrants in Houston, comes as the socialist Maduro regime continues to block flights deporting Venezuelans from the United States.
Two undocumented immigrants, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, are charged with murder in the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray after they allegedly lured her under a bridge, tied her up, killed her and then dumped her body in the river.
Venezuela to abandon agreement with U.S. on deporting illegal immigrants because some committed crimes that would make them eligible for deportation
President Nicolas Maduro led a ceremony in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 13, 2024, to mark the 22nd anniversary of the late President Hugo Chavez’s return to power in 2002. (REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File)
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesman said last week that both men were in the country illegally. Martinez was arrested by the Border Patrol in March, and Peña in May. Both were released on bail pending their immigration court hearings.
Their arrival came after Venezuela stopped accepting deportation flights from the United States and Mexico in January. The socialist government had begun accepting deportations of migrants from Venezuela in October, which saw a surge in the number of migrants arriving at the U.S. border in 2023.
but The Wall Street Journal The department reported that it had stopped its nearly weekly repatriation flights since February, when the U.S. reimposed previously lifted economic sanctions. By that point, only about 1,800 people had been deported on the flights.
Biden administration officials told reporters a few weeks ago that they wanted to increase the number of flights to Venezuela, saying “we intend to increase deportation flights to Venezuela” and that the administration sees it as a “critical part” of a broader migration strategy.
“This is an important deterrent,” they said.
Bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua” establishes base in US amid alarm bells from border authorities
The United States can still return a limited number of Venezuelans to Mexico under a deal signed last year, and Mexico reportedly recently secured a promise to return illegal immigrants from Venezuela to the country, but U.S. flights remain suspended.
Franklin Jose Peña Ramos (left) and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez are charged with murdering Jocelyn Nungaray on Monday, June 17, in Houston, Texas. (Harris County Jail)
Overall, the number of Venezuelans is down from a peak last year: Just over 17,000 Venezuelans were encountered at the southern border in May, according to Customs and Border Protection, down from 57,847 in December.
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However, the United States continues to face challenges related to Venezuelan immigrants. Last week, an illegal Venezuelan immigrant accused of shooting and killing two NYPD officers in Queens was indicted on attempted murder and other charges. Earlier this year, a Venezuelan immigrant was indicted for the violent murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley.
These images from a CBP intelligence bulletin show Tren de Aragua’s tattoos and identifying information. (CBP)
Officials and lawmakers have repeatedly sounded the alarm about the Tren de Aragua, a violent street gang that emerged from Venezuela and is gaining a presence in the United States.
The gang Known as TdAThe TdA made headlines earlier this year when it was revealed that the brother of the suspect in the murder of Georgia student Laken Riley was linked to the group. The TdA is said to specialize in extortion, kidnapping, murder and sex trafficking. Federal authorities have warned that the group is trying to establish itself in the US, and police have already linked it to organized crime. The FBI has also warned that the group could join forces with the brutal MS-13.
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The Border Patrol recently announced the arrest of 10 illegal immigrants with ties to the TDA, with Chief Jason Owens including accompanying photos showing the gang members’ tattoos.
One of the tattoos read, “Salute or shoot.”
