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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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A Guatemalan national accused of killing his girlfriend in Maryland was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody earlier this month, the agency announced on Tuesday.
The development comes amid an ongoing crackdown on undocumented immigrants with criminal charges.
Keycy Robinson Alexis Barrera-Rosa, 23, was arrested by ICE agents on April 5 in La Plata, Maryland, according to a press release from the agency.
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ICE said charges are pending against Barrera-Rosa for the murder of his girlfriend Lesbia Mileth Ramirez-Guerra, also 23 and a Guatemalan national. The woman's body was found buried near Cedarville State Forest in Prince George's County on April 17, Charles County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.
Authorities also charged Barrera-Rosa's uncle, 37-year-old Rolvin Eduardo Barrera-Barrera, with accessory after the fact of murder. Both men were identified by ICE as undocumented immigrants who crossed into the U.S. near El Paso, Texas, in April 2019.
Why It Matters
The arrests come amid a renewed emphasis on enforcing immigration laws under President Donald Trump. Federal authorities have been prioritizing the identification and removal of undocumented immigrants with criminal charges.
"This heinous crime not only devastated a community but also reinforced the urgent need to prioritize public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing egregious illegal aliens who threaten our neighborhoods," ICE Baltimore acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins said in a statement.
What To Know
Barrera-Rosa reported Ramirez-Guerra missing to the Charles County Sheriff's Office after she disappeared from her Waldorf home on March 31. The couple share two children together, according to WMAR.
Detectives noted suspicious activity in the couple's home and discovered fraudulent federal documents tied to Barrera-Rosa, the outlet reported.
After Ramirez-Guerra's body was located, Barrera-Rosa was charged with first-degree murder on April 18. ICE confirmed that both men are being held. Barrera-Rosa is in ICE custody at the Farmville Detention Center in Virginia and Barrera-Barrera is being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile incidents involving undocumented immigrants in Maryland. One such case is the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man the federal government alleges is an MS-13 gang member, and another involves Victor Martinez-Hernandez, a Salvadoran man convicted in the murder of Rachel Morin.
What People Are Saying
Liggins, in a statement: "The arrest of these two individuals marks a significant step towards justice."
Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry, in a statement: "While this was not the ending that we all hoped for, I am grateful to all those who worked so hard to find Ms. Guerra. On behalf of the Charles County Sheriff's Office, I offer our most sincere condolences to all of her family and friends."
What Happens Next
Barrera-Rosa is awaiting extradition to face charges filed by the Charles County Sheriff's Office. ICE has said it will continue working with law enforcement partners to keep communities safe and "uphold the rule of law."
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