Texas Lawmaker’s Remarks Spark Controversy

During a markup meeting on Wednesday, Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett referred to Kela Hamilton, a 20-year-old who was tragically murdered, as a “randomly dead” person. Hamilton, who was autistic, lost her life in July 2022 in Aberdeen, Maryland at the hands of Walter Javier Martinez, an undocumented immigrant connected to a Salvadoran gang.

The House Judiciary Committee meeting included discussions around the proposed Kela Hamilton Act, which Crockett criticized, accusing Republicans of politicizing tragedies like Hamilton’s death. She expressed frustration, stating, “I’m tired of involving y’all in one horrifying event! Because that’s all about it!” Crockett continued, “You take the situation and misuse it, exploiting the families for political gain.”

In response to the situation, South Carolina Republican Rep. Russell Fry introduced the Kela Hamilton Act aimed at protecting communities from dangerous unaccompanied alien children (UACs). Fry highlighted the need for accountability in placements of UACs following incidents like Hamilton’s murder.

Martinez had been arrested by Border Patrol in March 2022 and was later placed under the supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before being released to a sponsor in the U.S.

A report released by the House Judiciary Committee in May 2023 indicated that the Biden administration had inadequately vetted individuals like Martinez and missed critical warning signs related to violence. The Kela Hamilton Act aims to address these concerns by requiring HHS to assess whether unaccompanied minors pose risks to themselves or the community during placement decisions.