Houston 12-year-old’s killing becomes focus of immigration debate as 2 undocumented migrants are charged with capital murder

Two undocumented Venezuelan men have been charged with capital murder in the killing this month of a 12-year-old girl in Houston, the latest case to underscore the pivotal role immigration continues to play in US politics and the upcoming presidential election.

Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, were arrested June 20, three days after the strangled body of Jocelyn Nungaray was found in a shallow creek, according to the Houston Police Department.

A judge this week ordered each man held on a $10 million bond, court records show.

Both men are Venezuelan nationals who entered the US illegally, a spokesperson for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement told CNN. It’s unclear when and where they entered the country, the spokesperson said, but each was apprehended near El Paso by US Border Patrol – Martinez-Rangel on March 14 and Peña Ramos on May 28 – and released with a notice to appear in court in the future.

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

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

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

Trump, who will face Biden Thursday in CNN’s Presidential Debate, has echoed as much, saying in a speech over the weekend both suspects “would not have been in our country” if he were president, despite the fact similar crimes occurred during his time in office. He also pointed to the cases of two women who authorities say were killed in the past year by men who crossed into the country illegally: Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and Maryland mother Rachel Morin.

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

“The criminals who committed these heinous acts must be held responsible with the fullest 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 have said.

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

A few 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 with helping police throughout the investigation.

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

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

At that news conference, Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother, said it had been “a very, very hard time” for her family, telling reporters she kept seeing “signs” that reminded her of Jocelyn in the days following her death.

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

“Just remember that she was a very special little girl that deserves her justice.”

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

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