The illegal immigrant from Venezuela who shot and wounded a police officer in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday was set to be deported after entering the U.S. last year, but an immigration judge has given him a second chance to stay in the country, a Department of Homeland Security official told The Post.
The alleged police shooter, Jorge Chacon Gutierrez, 25, crossed the southern border with a group of about 600 migrants in November 2023, according to sources.
At the time, the Border Patrol was processing him for “expedited removal,” but he presented himself before an asylum officer, claiming he feared persecution in Venezuela, who rejected his claim and continued processing his removal.
But Chacon Gutierrez asked to present his case before an immigration judge, who quickly vacated the removal order and allowed his case to continue.
The case highlights “so many loopholes” in the US immigration system, the source said.
Police say Chacon Gutierrez died after an exchange of gunfire with officers who responded to a domestic violence call in the early morning hours.
A Venezuelan national is believed to have fired the first shot, but it is unclear how he died.
Chacon Gutierrez’s girlfriend told police the suspect had assaulted her, and when officers entered the apartment they found Chacon Gutierrez lying on his bed with a rifle next to him.
The man then allegedly began firing at police officers who responded and retreated from the apartment.
Police said the female officer was shot multiple times during the shootout and was later taken to a hospital where she underwent surgery.
“The officer is in good spirits but has a long road to recovery,” a San Antonio police spokesman told The Post.
The shooting is just one of several recent high-profile violent crimes committed by immigrants who have recently been screened and released into the United States.
Two Venezuelan immigrants are accused of raping and brutally murdering 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston last month.
In New York, Venezuelan gang members linked to the violent Tren de Aragua gang have committed snatch and robbery acts on mopeds, smuggled guns into city-run migrant shelters, and attacked police officers.
Police are currently investigating whether a man who shot and killed two people outside a migrant shelter in Brooklyn on July 21 had ties to the gang.
