Illegal immigrants accused of preying on innocent Americans in 2024
Communities nationwide have been left on edge by illegal immigrants who have taken advantage of a lax southern border under the Biden-Harris administration and victimized innocent Americans. Through the efforts of police and prosecutors, an example was set with the arrests or convictions of these migrants for their violent crimes in 2024.
1. Guatemalan immigrant accused of setting woman on fire in NYC subway
Sebastian Zapeta, a previously deported immigrant from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of arson after a woman was lit on fire and burned to death on a subway train in Brooklyn, New York. Surveillance video showed the suspect approaching the woman, who was sitting motionless, and may have been sleeping aboard a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station. Zapeta was apprehended by Border Patrol and deported by the Trump administration in 2018, only to reenter the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location.
2. Venezuelan migrant Jose Ibarra sentenced in Laken Riley’s murder
Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was convicted and sentenced for the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus. Ibarra attacked and killed Riley while she was jogging along trails near Lake Herrick, facing multiple charges including malice murder, felony murder, and kidnapping.
3. Mexican citizen arrested for girlfriend’s murder after removal from US
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who was deported to Mexico in 2020, was arrested on murder charges in Michigan for the killing of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia. Ortiz-Vite reentered the U.S. illegally and faces charges including felony murder, carjacking, and carrying a concealed weapon.
4. Honduran national accused of attempted hiking trail rape, sexual assaults
Denis Humberto Naverette Romero, a 31-year-old illegal Honduran migrant, was charged with abduction with intent to defile and rape after attacking a woman on a hiking trail in Virginia. Romero has a history of sexual assaults and indecent exposures in the region dating back to 2022.
5. Migrant wanted for murder in Dominican Republic accused of killing New York family
Julio Cesar Pimentel-Soriano, originally from the Dominican Republic, was arrested for allegedly murdering a New York family of four in their home. Pimentel-Soriano was wanted for a 2019 murder in his own country at the time of his arrest.
These cases highlight the dangers posed by illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes in the U.S. despite previous deportations or criminal histories. The enforcement of immigration laws and border security measures are crucial to ensuring the safety and security of American communities. Fox News continues to report on these cases to raise awareness and advocate for justice for the victims and their families.
