West Houston News

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) have introduced the Justice for Jocelyn Act, a bicameral piece of legislation aimed at improving the detention and tracking of illegal aliens entering the United States.

On June 17, 2024, Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl from Houston, Texas, was assaulted and murdered by two illegal aliens from Venezuela. Both individuals were enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Alternative to Detention (ATD) program, which allowed them to be released into the interior of the United States despite available Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention beds. One suspect was wearing an ICE GPS monitor during the incident, while the other had been permitted to remove his monitor after only 21 days.

The Justice for Jocelyn Act would mandate that all available ICE detention beds be utilized. Should these beds be filled, it would require the Secretary of DHS to exhaust all reasonable efforts to keep an alien in custody. If released under ATD, an alien would be subject to GPS monitoring throughout their immigration proceedings, including appeals or until removal. Additionally, immigration judges would be required to order removal upon proof from an ICE attorney that an alien has violated a release order.

“In the wake of so much grief, Jocelyn gives me the strength to be her voice and demand justice,” said Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother. “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.”

“The tragic death of Jocelyn Nungaray was entirely preventable,” stated Congressman Nehls. “The two illegal aliens suspected of assaulting and murdering her were from Venezuela 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 this never happen again.”

“Jocelyn Nungaray’s horrific death was entirely preventable,” added Senator Cruz. “The illegal aliens charged with murdering her should have been held in ICE custody but were allowed into the U.S., despite thousands of open detention center beds being available. 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 harm toward their children. Congress needs to wake up and act decidedly to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.”

Read more about the Justice for Jocelyn Act HERE.