After the recent arrest of an undocumented migrant for the murder of Rachel Morin in Maryland, former president Donald Trump shared his thoughts on Monday, expressing his strong disapproval of the crime and current immigration policies.
It was revealed by Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler that Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, a 23-year-old from El Salvador and the suspect in Morin’s homicide, was apprehended at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While the extradition process to Maryland could take some time, Martinez-Hernandez is presently held in a Tulsa County jail without bond awaiting charges related to Morin’s death and a detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was reported missing in August 2023 when she failed to return after a walk at the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland. Law enforcement discovered her body the next day, leading to a homicide investigation.
On Monday, Trump expressed his views on the arrest of Hernandez through his Truth Social platform, denouncing the murder and criticizing President Joe Biden for his immigration approach.
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“Crooked Joe Biden’s Illegal Immigrant Criminals strike again – another innocent American woman, Rachel Morin, tragically lost her life. Just like Laken Riley in Georgia, another victim of these illegal monsters. We are determined to secure the border from day one and deport those who do harm. Americans first, safety first! Thoughts and prayers to Rachel Morin’s family and her 5 children,” Trump expressed.
Officials disclosed that Martinez-Hernandez faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree rape in connection to Morin’s death, supported by the discovery of his DNA at the crime scene.
Furthermore, CBS News highlighted Martinez-Hernandez’s entrance into the U.S. in February 2023, fleeing an arrest warrant in El Salvador for the alleged murder of a young woman.
As immigration emerges as a key issue in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, both Trump and Biden, representing the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, have different approaches to border policies. Polls indicate doubts about Biden’s strategies, motivating Trump to promise stringent measures, including the largest domestic deportation operation.
Biden faces criticism from both sides for the spike in migrant border crossings during his administration. The number of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border has increased significantly in recent years, with varying viewpoints attributing this phenomenon to Biden’s policies or broader geopolitical issues in Central American countries.
Trump has previously connected Biden’s immigration stance to another tragic incident involving a different young woman’s death.
In a previous rally in Georgia, Trump condemned Biden’s policies following the death of Laken Riley, a nursing student found deceased near the University of Georgia, attributed to Jose Antonio Ibarra, a migrant from Venezuela.
“Had it not been for Biden’s actions, Laken Riley would be alive today. Thousands of dangerous criminals have been allowed in the country due to his careless decisions. My heart goes out to Laken’s family and we will seek justice,” Trump vowed.
In response, during his State of the Union address, Biden acknowledged Laken Riley’s tragic fate and expressed sympathy for her family, acknowledging the pain of losing a child.