Illegal immigrant charged with murder of 12-year-old Texas girl
Fox News’ Mike Tobin gives the latest on the death of Jocelyn Nangaray. The “Outnumbered” panel discussed the brutal killing and the latest on her suspected killers, who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally.
Two Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill to improve the detention and tracking of illegal immigrants entering the United States.
of Justice for Jocelyn Act The bill was introduced Thursday by Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Troy Nehls, both Republicans of Texas. Cruz’s office said the bill would crack down on the Department of Homeland Security’s “Alternatives to Detention” program by requiring ICE to keep all detention beds full, and if they are full, require the department to make all reasonable efforts to keep illegal immigrants in custody.
The bill is named after Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered on June 17 by two Venezuelan nationals who were living in Texas illegally.
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The bill, titled the “Justice for Joslin Act,” was introduced Thursday in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and in the House of Representatives by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas). (Getty Images)
Cruz’s office noted the suspects were enrolled in the ATD program, which means they were “released into the interior of the United States despite thousands of empty beds in ICE detention centers.”
The senator’s office also highlighted the fact that one of the suspects “was wearing an ICE GPS monitor at the time of the assault and murder of Joslyn.”
If the Department of Homeland Security still releases an illegal immigrant pursuant to the ATD, the person would be subject to continuous GPS monitoring until they are deported or all immigration proceedings are completed, Cruz’s office said in explaining the bill.
The Texas senator’s office also noted that the bill “gives immigration authorities the power to immediately deport illegal immigrants who violate the terms of their release.”
“Jocelyn Nangaray’s horrific death was entirely preventable.” Cruz said in a statement. “The illegal immigrants charged with her murder should have been in ICE custody, but they were allowed into the United States despite thousands of empty detention beds. No parent should have to go through the suffering that Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis, has suffered.”
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Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was allegedly murdered on June 17 by two Venezuelan nationals who were in Texas illegally. (Courtesy of Fox Houston and the Nungarei Family)
“No family should have to live in fear that a violent foreign criminal is roaming their neighborhood, ready to harm their children,” he said. “ICE and Border Patrol agents should not have their hands tied when illegal immigrants commit crimes. Congress must wake up and take decisive action to ensure tragedies like this never happen again.”
Nehls echoed Cruz, saying Nungarei’s “tragic” death was preventable and that he hopes the legislation will prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
“The tragic death of Jocelyn Nungaray was entirely preventable. The two illegal immigrants who allegedly assaulted and murdered her were from gang-ridden Venezuela and were released into the United States by the Biden Administration despite empty Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities,” Nehls said. “Without serious reform, American families will continue to lose family and loved ones to illegal immigration. Enough is enough. I am proud to introduce the Justice for Jocelyn Act with Senator Ted Cruz to ensure tragedies like Jocelyn’s death never happen again.”
Franklin Jose Peña Ramos (left) and Johan Jose Martinez Rangel are charged with murdering Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas. (Harris County Jail)
“After much grief, Jocelyn has given me the strength to be her voice and demand justice,” said Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungareyi. “Senator Ted Cruz’s Justice for Jocelyn Act would have prevented Jocelyn’s death. It would have kept her two killers off the streets and it would have meant that Jocelyn would be here with us today. For the safety of children across the country, I ask everyone to support Senator Cruz’s Justice for Jocelyn Act.”
Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 21, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, are charged with murder in Nungaray’s death after authorities say the pair entered the United States illegally earlier this year.
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The suspects allegedly lured Nungarei under a bridge in Houston last month, sexually assaulted her and then strangled her to death.
Fox News’ Bree Stimson and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
