Rachel Morin's Mother Blames Democrats for ICE Raid 'Chaos'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin who was killed by an undocumented migrant, has blamed Democrats for what she calls the "chaos" surrounding immigration enforcement.
In the wake of her daughter's killer being convicted on multiple felony charges, Morin condemned sanctuary city policies and accused Democrats and progressive politicians of enabling "criminals" by refusing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"Democrat and socialist leaders are causing more harm than good to both American citizens and law-abiding immigrants with their rhetoric, paid chaos, and refusal to apprehend criminals," Patty Morin told Newsweek.
Patty Morin speaks at AmericaFest on December 22, 2024, in Phoenix.
Patty Morin speaks at AmericaFest on December 22, 2024, in Phoenix.
Rick Scuteri/AP
The Context
Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was killed in 2023 while out for a walk in Bel Air, Maryland. Her boyfriend reported her missing on August 5 after she failed to return home, and her body was discovered the next day, prompting a homicide investigation.
Victor Martinez-Hernandez was apprehended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a 10-month nationwide search. According to law enforcement, he had been fleeing an arrest warrant for murder in his home country. DNA evidence from Rachel Morin's crime scene also matched evidence from a home invasion and assault involving a mother and her child in Los Angeles.
Her convicted killer, 23-year-old El Salvadoran national Martinez-Hernandez—who entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and has known gang ties—was found guilty by a jury on Monday. He was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sex offense, and kidnapping.
What To Know
"The death of my daughter Rachel has been the most traumatic experience I have ever had to endure. There continue to be ups and downs in emotions as certain dates trigger memories of her," Patty Morin said.
"I never thought I would say, 'You become stronger in carrying the grief over time.' You never lose the grief, you just learn to walk two timelines simultaneously," she added.
Morin says her daughter's murder could have been prevented if local and federal officials had enforced immigration laws more aggressively. She pointed to a growing pattern she sees in areas that limit cooperation with federal authorities.
Maryland has not passed a statewide sanctuary law, meaning the state does not officially designate itself as a "sanctuary state." However, several counties in Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Baltimore City, have policies that limit cooperation with ICE. Harford County, where Bel Air is located, is not considered a sanctuary jurisdiction, according to right-wing think tank the Center for Immigration Studies.
"We find this is happening in 'Sanctuary Cities.' But in states and counties where officials are cooperating with ICE detainers, you don't hear of any non-violent illegal immigrants being detained; just the criminal elements," Patty Morin said.
Newsweek has documented several cases of non-violent migrants in red states who have been caught up in the immigration raids. Ximena Arias‑Cristobal's detention in Georgia, where local police fully cooperate with ICE, highlights a case where a non-violent college student with no criminal record was detained. She was eventually released following a wave of public backlash.
Meanwhile, Rachel Morin's five children, now aged 9 to 19, have filed a lawsuit claiming they have not received any of the $55,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign following their mother's 2023 murder.
The money, originally intended to help cover funeral costs and support the children, is allegedly being held by Morin's mother and sister, Patty and Rebekah Morin. According to the suit, none of the donated funds or gifts have been passed on to the children.
What People Are Saying
Patty Morin told Newsweek: "President Trump has kept his campaign promises, and I do believe he genuinely cares about the safety of the American citizen and about protecting the sovereignty of our nation from foreign enemies.
"The American people see and recognize this: that the Democratic Party and far-left socialists do not represent the values of the American citizen."
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