Austin News

HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led a press conference today on the Justice for Jocelyn Act, aiming to address issues with the Department of Homeland Security’s “Alternative to Detention” program. The event featured Alexis Nungaray, whose 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, was assaulted and murdered by two illegal aliens from Venezuela. Other attendees included Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Representative Troy Nehls, Texas businessman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, and Andy Kahan, Crime Stopper’s Director of Victim Services and Advocacy.

Sen. Cruz stated at the press conference: “This is a straightforward, commonsense step. It’s something that makes sense. Those of us up here are wearing bracelets that read, ‘Justice for Jocelyn.’ I pray that these bracelets touch more than your wrists—that they touch your heart. Because not only are we grieving for Jocelyn, but we should be grieving for the little girl or little boy who is going to be killed tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. Because as long as the federal government keeps doing what it’s doing—everyday releasing illegal immigrants who are preying on and murdering innocent people—we’re going to see more little girls, more little boys, more women, more men subjected to hell. It’s not right, and as a community we can stand up and say ‘enough is enough.’”

On June 17, 2024, two Venezuelan illegal aliens assaulted and murdered 12-year-old Houston resident Jocelyn Nungaray while enrolled in DHS's “Alternative to Detention” program. One suspect was wearing an ICE GPS monitor during the crime.

The Justice for Jocelyn Act proposes filling every ICE detention bed before releasing any detainees under ATD. If beds are unavailable, DHS must exhaust all efforts to keep an alien in custody or subject them to continuous GPS monitoring until removal or completion of immigration proceedings. Additionally, it empowers officials to deport those violating release terms immediately.

In 2007, then-Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz argued Medellín v. Texas before the U.S. Supreme Court defending Texas courts' rights in sentencing a foreign national for heinous crimes—a case where he prevailed with a 6-3 decision.