WASHINGTON — A Maryland mother whose daughter was brutally murdered in a high-profile case involving an undocumented immigrant is voicing concerns about the nation’s immigration policies and urging President Joe Biden to tighten border security. Tammy Nobles, whose 20-year-old daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was raped and strangled in 2022, is one of the grieving parents who sees the porous U.S. border as a critical factor in the violence that shattered her family.
Nobles spoke passionately about the perceived failures at both state and federal levels that, in her view, contributed to her daughter’s death and other similar tragedies. Her concerns are amplified by another case, the murder of Rachel Morin, which occurred a year after Hamilton’s death under seemingly similar circumstances involving another undocumented migrant.
The accused in Morin’s case, a 23-year-old Salvadoran named Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, faces charges of first-degree murder and rape. Martinez-Hernandez, who had allegedly entered the U.S. illegally multiple times, was also arrested on a Maryland hiking trail where Morin’s murder took place.
The backdrop to these tragedies includes reports of inadequate background checks on unaccompanied migrant minors and gaps in the enforcement of immigration laws. These gaps, according to Nobles, mean that dangerous individuals are sometimes overlooked until it is too late.
Kayla Hamilton’s case further highlights these issues. She was killed in her home by a 17-year-old MS-13 gang member who also hailed from El Salvador. The teen, who shared the house with Hamilton by subletting from another undocumented migrant, was later apprehended and charged with first-degree murder.
The emotional toll on families like Nobles’ is immense. “I am incredibly saddened that something like this has occurred again. I understand what Rachel’s mom and family are going through and the nightmare that they have to endure every day,” Nobles shared, reflecting on the recent murder of Morin.
In response to these incidents, Nobles has taken legal action against the federal government, filing a $100 million lawsuit earlier this year. She accuses several agencies of failing to properly screen individuals like the suspect involved in her daughter’s murder before allowing them entry into the country.
Authorities noted that Morin’s alleged killer was wanted for previous crimes in El Salvador before eventually facing charges in the United States, which included an assault in Los Angeles. This history underlines the arguments for more stringent vetting processes that Nobles and other critics of the current immigration policy advocate for.
“My message to Biden would be close the border and start vetting and background checking every illegal immigrant and start processing the ones that came here the legal way,” Nobles stated firmly, calling for comprehensive reform to prevent future tragedies.
Her advocacy doesn’t just stem from her family’s loss. Nobles aims to protect other families from experiencing similar heartache by pushing for policy changes that prioritize the safety and security of American citizens.
The national debate on immigration is polarized, with tragedies like those experienced by the families of Kayla Hamilton and Rachel Morin adding highly emotional dimensions to the discourse surrounding border security and immigration policies. As the community mourns, calls for action are intensifying, with affected families at the forefront demanding change.