The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had lodged a detainer asking Texas to not release an El Salvadoran national, who is accused of murder in two fatal shootings and is in the country illegally, without notifying the agency.
Jefferson Adonay Velasquez-Torres, 18, was charged this week with murder for an April 27 shooting outside a Houston nightclub in which Noah Ramirez, 27, died.
Two others were injured in the shooting, according to a report from affiliate FOX 26 Houston.
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Velasquez-Torres was previously charged in June with murder for his alleged involvement in a shooting at a Houston house party last August that left Angel Garcia, 17, dead.
A second suspect, Enrique Aguilar, 19, was also arrested in connection with Garcia’s death, FOX 26 reported.
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Velasquez-Torres also faces charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and aggravated robbery.
The 18-year-old came into the U.S. illegally as a minor in 2014 during former President Barack Obama’s second term and was released into the country.
“This criminal illegal alien has been charged with TWO counts of murder after two fatal shootings in Houston,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.
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She continued, “He would not be in our country if it weren’t for the reckless open-border policies of the Obama Administration. ICE asked officials in Texas to not release this heinous murderer from jail without notifying ICE. Thankfully, Texas cooperates with us and together we will ensure this public safety threat will never be loose on our streets.”
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Velasquez-Torres is being held in the Harry County Jail after being denied bond for charges related to the second shooting.
ICE lodges detainer on Salvadoran national, 18, accused of 2 fatal shootings in Houston
