Former President Donald Trump extended condolences this week to Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, who was tragically raped and murdered by an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador on Thursday. Expressing his deep sympathy, Trump’s call left Patty “deeply touched” by his “honest compassion.” However, she criticized President Joe Biden and his Department of Homeland Security Secretary for their insensitivity in referring to Rachel as an “individual.
The New York Post reported that Trump spoke with Patty about her daughter Rachel, a 37-year-old mother of five who was brutally killed while hiking on a trail last August in Harford County, Maryland. In response, the grieving mother expressed gratitude for Trump’s empathy and concern during this trying time.
The suspect in Rachel’s murder, Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 23, was arrested by officers from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies on Friday. As an undocumented immigrant who had crossed the border four times last year, Martinez-Hernandez had a history of assaulting a mother and young girl during a home break-in in Los Angeles. His arrest sparked renewed debates over the security of the southern border.
Morin family attorney Randolph Rice stated that Rachel’s death should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers and the Biden administration to address the issue of border security seriously. According to Rice, prioritizing border protection is essential in preventing future violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants. He emphasized that even one life saved from being taken by an undocumented immigrant would be worth the effort.
During a CNN interview on Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was questioned about Rachel’s murder and the administration’s policies linked to violent crimes committed by migrants. In response, Mayorkas referred to Rachel as “the individual,” a term that prompted Patty to appear on Fox News the following day to criticize the DHS chief for his choice of words.
The suspect in Rachel’s murder was arrested at a Tulsa, Oklahoma sports bar on Friday and has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape. In a related development, the GOP-controlled House passed legislation earlier this month that would require the federal government to deport any illegal immigrant who assaults a police officer. The measure received a vote of 265 to 148, with 54 Democrats siding with the GOP.
The Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act is aimed at protecting law enforcement officers from violence perpetrated by undocumented immigrants. The bill mandates that federal authorities hold such individuals in custody until deportation. It also establishes a new category of migrant inadmissibility, specifically targeting illegal immigrants accused of assaulting police, as per its leading sponsor, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J.
In the wake of these incidents, former President Trump has vowed to reverse Biden’s open-border policies and pursue mass deportations if he is successful in November. Polling indicates that most Americans, including Hispanics, support such actions.
