Republican lawmakers introduce bill to improve detention and tracking of illegal immigrants entering the United States

Two Republican lawmakers have introduced a measure aimed at improving the detention and tracking of illegal immigrants entering the United States.

The Justice for Jocelyn bill was introduced Thursday by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. The measure would crack down on the Department of Homeland Security’s Alternative to Detention (ATD) program by requiring every ICE detention spot to be filled and, if filled, would require DHS to exhaust all reasonable efforts to keep illegal immigrants in custody, according to Cruz’s office.

The law is named after Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered on June 17, allegedly by two Venezuelan nationals who were in Texas illegally.

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Dubbed the “Justice for Jocelyn Act,” the bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in the Senate and Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, in the House of Representatives on Thursday. (Getty Images)

Cruz's office noted that the suspects were enrolled in the ATD program, meaning they “were released into the interior of the United States despite the availability of thousands of beds in ICE detention centers.”

The senator's office also noted that one of the suspects “was wearing an ICE GPS monitor at the time of Jocelyn's assault and murder.”

If DHS were to release an illegal immigrant under the ATD, the person would be subject to continuous GPS monitoring until removed from the country or until all immigration proceedings are completed, Cruz's office noted in describing the bill.

The Texas senator's office also noted that the bill “would give immigration officials the power to immediately deport illegal immigrants who violate the conditions of their release.”

“The horrific death of Jocelyn Nungaray was preventable,” Cruz said in a statement. “The illegal immigrants accused of murdering her should have been taken into ICE custody, but they were allowed to enter the United States despite thousands of beds available in open detention centers. No parent should have to experience the anguish that Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis, is going through.”

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Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was allegedly murdered on June 17 by two Venezuelan nationals who were in Texas illegally. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)

He added: “No family should have to live in fear that a violent criminal from another country is roaming their neighborhood intent on harming their children. No ICE or Border Patrol agent should have their hands tied when an illegal alien commits a crime. Congress must wake up and act decisively to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.”

Echoing Cruz, Nehls said Nungaray's “tragic” death was preventable and that he hopes the legislation will prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

“The tragic death of Jocelyn Nungaray was preventable. The two illegal immigrants suspected of assaulting and murdering her were from Venezuela, a safe haven for gangs, and were released by the Biden administration into our country despite the availability of ICE detention centers,” Nehls said. “Without meaningful reforms, American families will continue to lose family members and loved ones to illegal immigrants. Enough is enough. I am proud to introduce the Justice for Jocelyn Act with Senator Ted Cruz to ensure tragedies like Jocelyn’s death never happen again.”

Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, left, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel have been charged with the murder of Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas. (Harris County Jail)

“After so much heartbreak, Jocelyn gives me the strength to be her voice and demand justice,” said Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother. “Senator Ted Cruz’s Justice for Jocelyn Act would have prevented Jocelyn’s death. It would have kept her two killers off the streets and allowed Jocelyn to be here with us today. For the safety of children across this country, I urge everyone to support Senator Cruz’s Justice for Jocelyn Act.”

Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 21, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, are charged with capital murder in Nungaray's death. Both men entered the United States illegally earlier this year, authorities say.

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The suspects allegedly sexually assaulted Nungaray before strangling her to death after luring her under a bridge in Houston last month.

Fox News' Brie Stimson and Landon Mion contributed to this report.