Rep. Troy E. Nehls and Sen. Ted Cruz Introduce the Justice for Jocelyn Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced bicameral legislation, the Justice for Jocelyn Act. This legislation would improve 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 illegal aliens were enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alternative to Detention (ATD) program, meaning they were released into the interior of the United States, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention beds being available. One of the suspects was wearing an ICE GPS monitor at the time of Jocelyn’s assault and murder. The other illegal alien was allowed to remove his ICE GPS monitor after only 21 days.
Congressman Nehls and Senator Cruz’s legislation, the Justice for Jocelyn Act, would require that every available ICE detention bed be filled, and if filled, this legislation would require the Secretary of DHS to exhaust all reasonable efforts to keep an alien in custody. If the DHS Secretary releases an alien pursuant to ATD, an alien would be subject to GPS monitoring for the entire duration of their immigration proceedings, including appeals, or until their removal. Additionally, immigration judges would be required to order an alien removed upon a showing by an ICE attorney that an alien has violated a release order, regardless of whether that alien is present at the removal hearing.
“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,” said Congressman Nehls. “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.”
“Jocelyn Nungaray’s horrific death was entirely preventable,” said Senator Cruz. “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.”
Read the Justice for Jocelyn ActHERE.