The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have initiated a detention request for an undocumented immigrant in Oklahoma who is facing murder charges for allegedly strangling his wife and leaving her body near a highway.
Willie Ricardo Merida Escobar, 40, was charged with first-degree murder of Carla Gramajo-Cabrera on April 10 in Tulsa County. According to DHS, Merida-Escobar, originally from Guatemala, entered the U.S. illegally in September 2016 and received a final order for removal in 2023.
Acting Assistant Secretary of State Lauren Biss remarked on the situation, stating, “Willy Ricardo Merida Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, strangled his wife in Oklahoma and abandoned her body under a highway. This monster should never exist in our country.”
Biss also mentioned that ICE has submitted an arrest warrant to prevent Merida-Escobar’s release from custody. “Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to ensuring we have the resources we need to apprehend criminal illegal aliens across the country,” she added, emphasizing that under the previous administration, illegal aliens who commit crimes are not welcome in the U.S.
Merida-Escobar’s wife was reported missing by her sister, prompting a police investigation. Authorities noted concerning behavior from Merida-Escobar and a history of domestic violence. When apprehended, he confessed to the murder.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the couple’s 17-year-old son was asleep in their home at the time of the alleged crime. Merida-Escobar initially claimed he couldn’t remember where he had disposed of his wife’s body, but further inquiries led police to find her remains under a mattress near the highway.
In Oklahoma, local law enforcement cooperates with ICE through the 287(g) program, which enables them to identify and refer undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes for deportation proceedings. While Fox News Digital reached out to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt for comment about Merida-Escobar’s potential removal, there was no response by publication time.
