Sen. Cruz, Rep. Nehls Introduce the Justice for Jocelyn Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the brutal murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray by two illegal aliens, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas-22) today introduced legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives to improve the detention and tracking of illegal aliens entering the United States.
Upon introduction, Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, said, “In the wake of so much grief, Jocelyn gives me the strength to be her voice and demand justice. Senator Ted Cruz's Justice for Jocelyn Act would have prevented Jocelyn's death. It would have prevented her two murderers from being on the street and it would have meant that Jocelyn would be here with us today. For the safety of kids nationwide, I urge everyone to support Sen. Cruz’s Justice for Jocelyn Act.”
Sen. Cruz said, “Jocelyn Nungaray’s horrific death was entirely preventable. The illegal aliens charged with murdering her should have been held in ICE custody, but they were allowed into the U.S. despite the availability of thousands of open detention center beds. No parent should have to feel the anguish that Jocelyn’s mother Alexis is suffering. No family should have to live in fear that a violent criminal from another country is wandering their neighborhood intending to harm their children. No ICE or Border Patrol agent should have their hands tied when an illegal alien commits a crime. Congress needs to wake up and act decidedly to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.”
Rep. Nehls said, “The tragic death of Jocelyn Nungaray was entirely preventable. The two illegal aliens suspected of assaulting and murdering her were from Venezuela, a gang haven, and were released by the Biden Administration into our homeland, despite ICE detention beds being available. Without serious reforms, American families will continue to lose family members and loved ones at the hands of illegal aliens. Enough is enough. I am proud to introduce the Justice for Jocelyn Act with Senator Ted Cruz to ensure tragedies like the death of Jocelyn never happen again.”
Read the Justice for Jocelyn Act here.
BACKGROUND:
On June 17, 2024, two Venezuelan illegal aliens assaulted and brutally murdered 12-year-old Houston resident Jocelyn Nungaray. Both suspects were enrolled DHS’ “Alternative to Detention” (“ATD”) program, meaning they were released into the interior of the United States despite the availability of thousands of ICE detention center beds. One of the suspects was wearing an ICE GPS monitor at the time of Jocelyn’s assault and murder.
The Justice for Jocelyn Act would crack down on ATD by requiring every ICE detention bed to be filled, and, if filled, would require the Secretary of DHS to exhaust all reasonable efforts to keep an alien in custody. Should the Secretary nevertheless release an alien pursuant to ATD, the alien would be subject to continuous GPS monitoring until either their removal from the country or the completion of all immigration proceedings. Finally, Justice for Jocelyn would empower immigration officials to immediately deport illegal aliens who violate the terms of their release.
In 2007, then-Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz argued before the United States Supreme Court in Medellín v. Texas, defending the right of the Texas courts to sentence a foreign national to death for the heinous rape and murder of two American teenage girls. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court sided with Sen. Cruz, agreeing that the president could not usurp the authority of Congress and force Texas courts to abide by international rules that Congress had not been ratified. It was Sen. Cruz’s most notable win before the Supreme Court.
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