Three Illegal Immigrants Charged with Murder in Texas
Three undocumented immigrants released in the U.S. by the Biden administration now face murder charges after allegedly shooting a security guard in Garland, Texas. The suspects, all from Venezuela, reportedly killed 48-year-old Santiago Lopez Morales at a Motel 6. Additionally, two of the suspects are charged with aggravated robbery, one facing further charges for an assault, according to immigration officials.
Yosguar Aponte-Jimenez, Jose Trivino-Cruz, and Jesus Bellorin-Guzman have all been charged with capital murder in connection with Morales’s death. Reports suggest that they were previously detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to their illegal status.
“These three individuals, released under the Biden administration, are now charged with serious crimes after taking a life in Dallas County. Such actions from illegal immigrants are intolerable, and thanks to dedicated ICE officers, they will face justice,” an ICE representative stated.
Details from ICE reveal that Aponte-Jimenez crossed the southern border illegally on May 3, 2023, and was subsequently released in the U.S. He is currently in custody and charged with capital murder.
Trivino-Cruz entered the U.S. using the CBP One app on October 9, 2024. Similar to Aponte-Jimenez, he is now charged with capital murder, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Bellorin-Guzman also used the CBP One app, having arrived in the U.S. on January 6, 2025. He is charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery, and remains in custody as well.
According to reports from Dallas FOX4, police arrived at Motel 6 following a shooting call and found Morales on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Witnesses indicated that the suspects were also involved in a robbery at another motel prior to the shooting.
FOX4’s affidavit detailed that a woman who was robbed previously mentioned the incident to Morales. He allegedly greeted the suspects at Motel 6 while posing as a prostitute, only to be shot moments later. The full timeline of events is accessible through FOX4’s coverage.
Prior to the fatal shooting, the suspects had reportedly robbed another motel, the Deluxe Inn in Garland. Witnesses recounted that the duo had assaulted and robbed a woman, taking valuables like earrings, cash, and her ID card.
Trivino-Cruz reportedly admitted to stealing from numerous individuals, claiming over 25 robberies involving such crimes. A Texas judge set bail amounts for the three men at $1.5 million, $2.25 million, and $3.255 million. They are currently held in Dallas County Jail as immigration officials process their cases.
ICE did not confirm if the suspects are linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year by the Trump administration.
