ICE detains undocumented teacher connected to Tren de Aragua shooting

Former Teacher Arrested in Connection with Chicago Shooting

A former teacher from Illinois, who was living in the U.S. illegally, has been taken into custody by federal authorities. This follows her suspected involvement in a shooting that occurred at a house party in Chicago in December 2024, which left three people dead, the authorities announced on Monday.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that 32-year-old Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, a Venezuelan national holding dual Italian citizenship, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on May 13. Occhipinti had entered the U.S. in October 2021 under the Visa Waiver Program but overstayed her visa, with a departure date slated for January 2, 2022.

On the night of the shooting, which took place on December 2, 2024, she allegedly drove two gunmen to the scene of the crime, according to officials. The attack resulted in three fatalities and injured five others.

Additional Charges Against Suspects

After the incident, Occhipinti was initially arrested on December 5, 2024, for unlawful weapon use and other related offenses. However, due to Chicago’s sanctuary policy, which shields undocumented immigrants from federal immigration enforcement, she was released without notifying ICE, as DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss highlighted in a statement. Biss criticized the lack of action from “sanctuary politicians” in Illinois, emphasizing that the DHS is prioritizing public safety by removing individuals who pose a threat.

In the aftermath, one of the gunmen, Edward Martínez Cermeno, was released from ICE custody in January 2025 when a federal judge determined there wasn’t sufficient evidence to keep him detained pending trial. Authorities later found multiple firearms in Occhipinti’s vehicle and believe she played a role in helping the shooters elude law enforcement following the attack.

Details of the Incident

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office ultimately chose not to prosecute Occhipinti or the gunmen, leading to their deportation after their initial arrests. DHS officials stated that Occhipinti acted thoughtfully and with intent, contributing to this tragic event.

DHS has indicated that Occhipinti was employed as a teacher at a school in Elgin, a suburb of Chicago. However, the Illinois officials have not disclosed the school’s name to federal authorities.