Jocelyn Nungaray: Murder of 12-year-old in Houston becomes center of immigration debate as two undocumented migrants face capital murder charges

Houston
CNN
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Two undocumented Venezuelans have been charged with capital murder in the killing of a 12-year-old girl in Houston this month, the latest case to highlight the central role that immigration continues to play in American politics and the upcoming presidential election.

Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, were arrested June 20, three days after Jocelyn Nungaray’s strangled body was found in a shallow river, according to Houston police.

A judge this week ordered each man held on $10 million bail, according to court records.

The two men are Venezuelan nationals who entered the United States illegally, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told CNN. It’s unclear when or where they entered the country, the spokesperson said, but each was apprehended near El Paso by U.S. Border Patrol – Martinez-Rangel on March 14 and Peña Ramos on the 28th. May – and released with a summons to appear in court in the future.

Peña Ramos’ lawyer declined to comment. An attorney for Martinez-Rangel did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Republicans and right-wing media outlets have pointed to the case as a consequence of the immigration policies of President Joe Biden’s administration, seeking to draw a contrast with his rival, former President Donald Trump.

“This little girl would be alive today if Biden enforced immigration laws at the border,” GOP Gov. Greg Abbott said on X after the suspects’ arrests.

Trump, who will face Biden in the CNN presidential debate on Thursday, echoed that, saying in a speech over the weekend that the two suspects “would not have been in our country” if he had been president, despite the fact that similar crimes occurred during his tenure. desk. He also highlighted the cases of two women who authorities say were killed in the past year by men who entered the country illegally: Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia, and Rachel Morin, the mother of Maryland.

Asked Wednesday about the cases, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said, “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.”

“The criminals who committed these heinous acts must be held accountable to the full force of the law,” he told CNN’s Kate Bolduan. “We will hold the criminals accountable. »

Jocelyn’s body was found along West Rankin Road in north Houston early in the morning of June 17, authorities said.

Detectives obtained surveillance footage from the area showing the suspects together at a restaurant the evening before, Lt. Stephen Hope of the Houston Police Department said at a news conference after their arrest. The two men left on foot and were later seen meeting and talking with Jocelyn, Hope said, before all three headed to a convenience store.

Minutes later, Hope said, Jocelyn and the men went to the bridge where “ultimately, Jocelyn was murdered,” Hope said. The suspects left, he said, before returning to a residence they shared.

On June 20, Houston police found the suspects at an apartment complex where they were arrested without incident, Hope said, crediting the community for helping police throughout the investigation.

At this time, the charges against the suspects do not qualify for the death penalty, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said at a news conference Monday, according to footage from CNN affiliate KHOU, adding that forensic evidence is still being examined.

The decision whether to seek a death sentence will not be made unilaterally by Ogg, she said. His office has a committee that makes this choice based on the evidence and the feelings of the victim’s family.

At that press conference, Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother, said it had been “a very, very difficult time” for her family, telling reporters that she continued to see “signs” that reminded her of Jocelyn. in the days following his death.

“I know this is a high-profile case,” Nungaray said, “but she was still my firstborn. I was a teenage mom, I fought for her at 15. I’m 27 now and I’m still fighting for her.

“Remember she was a very special little girl who deserves justice.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated when the two men entered the United States. The date is unknown, according to ICE.