White House Highlights Florida Mother’s Killing Amid Trump Rally

As President Donald Trump gears up to speak at a rally in Fort Myers on Friday, the White House is bringing attention to a tragic case involving the hammer murder of a Florida mother. A spokesperson emphasized that this incident illustrates the ramifications of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.

Trump’s appearance is set for 2 p.m. at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Alico Arena, right before the November 3 midterm elections. The White House is using this case in Fort Myers to draw attention to the president’s immigration enforcement history.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital, “A few months ago, an illegal alien brutally killed a woman outside a gas station in Fort Myers, striking her multiple times on the head with a hammer.”

In response to the violent act, it has sparked outrage among those wanting to extend protections for Haitians in the U.S.

“This heinous murderer was RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration,” Bis continued. “They not only released him but also granted him Temporary Protected Status. This represents the consequences of the Democrats’ open-border policies.”

Previously, Trump condemned the murder on Truth Social, referring to the surveillance footage as “one of the most vicious things you will ever see” and placing the blame on the Biden administration for allowing the assailant entry into the U.S.

In April, he stated, “This one killing should be enough for these Radical Judges to STOP impeding my Administration’s Immigration Policies.” This refers to the murder of a Florida mother, where Haitian national Rolbert Joachim allegedly attacked her outside a gas station.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, surveillance footage captured the grisly moment as Joachim smashed the woman’s windshield and then attacked her with the hammer in broad daylight. The victim, a gas station clerk and mother of two, succumbed to her injuries.

Fort Myers police teamed up with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to track down Joachim, who was later apprehended on Mango Street, according to DHS.

DHS mentioned that Joachim entered the U.S. in August 2022 and was subsequently released under the Biden administration. Although a federal judge issued a final removal order against him that same year, he received Temporary Protected Status, which is set to expire in 2024.

This status allows certain foreign nationals to remain temporarily in the U.S. due to troubling conditions back home, but it doesn’t provide a clear pathway to permanent residency.

The White House is spotlighting this case as Trump prepares to speak to supporters in southwest Florida, a region that has shown robust support for him in past elections.

In all of his campaigns, Trump has won Florida, increasing his margin from about one percentage point in 2016 to over 13 points in 2024.

In Lee County, where Fort Myers is located, Trump won 63.6% of the vote in 2024, compared to 35.3% for Kamala Harris, based on official results.

The White House has stated that Trump’s strict immigration measures have led to 17 consecutive months without border releases and the deportation of over 3 million individuals living in the U.S. illegally.

Following his arrest, ICE filed an immigration detainer against Joachim, ensuring he would face deportation regardless of how his criminal case unfolds. Local reports indicate that prosecutors have now decided to pursue the death penalty in his case.

Trump’s rally on Friday is part of his ongoing campaign efforts to support Republican candidates nationwide leading up to the midterm elections.