Family members of a 12-year-old Houston girl, who was tragically killed by two Venezuelan men who entered the U.S. illegally, are backing legislation that would restrict federal immigration authorities from releasing detained immigrants. The proposed bill, known as the 'Justice for Jocelyn Act,' aims to prevent the release of detained immigrants if there are available beds at detention centers.
The suspects, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, have been charged with capital murder in the death of Jocelyn Nungaray, who was found strangled in a creek after disappearing during a walk to a convenience store. Both men entered the U.S. illegally near El Paso earlier this year and were subsequently arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol. Despite being released with orders to appear in court at a later date through ICE's Alternatives to Detention programs, they committed the heinous crime.
The 'Justice for Jocelyn Act' proposed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls would mandate continuous GPS monitoring and nightly curfews for released immigrants, with any violation leading to immediate deportation. The legislation has garnered bipartisan support, with Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg endorsing it as a measure to enhance public safety.
While Republicans argue that the Biden administration's immigration policies have failed, critics like Nayna Gupta from the National Immigrant Justice Center caution against exploiting individual tragedies to push for harsher immigration enforcement. Gupta emphasizes the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, citing its outdated and broken nature.
ICE's Alternatives to Detention programs, which have been in place since 2004, have faced scrutiny from migrants' rights groups who advocate for less reliance on detention. These groups argue that detention is inefficient and ineffective, advocating for more humane and cost-effective alternatives.
Despite recent cases involving immigrants charged with crimes, studies have shown that immigrants are less likely to engage in violent crime compared to native-born citizens. The debate over immigration policy continues to be a contentious issue, with calls for reform to address systemic flaws rather than reacting to isolated incidents.
