Another tragic death has underscored the consequences of lax immigration enforcement in Harris County, Texas. On December 1, 7-year-old Ivory Smith was killed by a drunk driver in northeast Houston. Her mother sustained serious injuries in the crash. The alleged driver, 41-year-old Venezuelan national Joel Enrique Gonzalez Chacin, was in the country illegally and had a prior criminal record. He now faces charges of intoxicated manslaughter.
This incident occurred just months after Chacin was released from jail on a downgraded charge. In June, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a family member, but a judge reduced his felony charge to a misdemeanor, sentencing him to 113 days, effectively time served. Despite an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez’s office did not notify ICE before Chacin’s release, allowing him to walk free.
Houston, the largest city near the U.S.-Mexico border, has struggled with rising crime linked to illegal border crossings and cartel operations. Since 2017, under Sheriff Gonzalez’s leadership, Harris County has refused to cooperate with ICE, adopting sanctuary policies that hinder deportation efforts. This practice has led to dangerous individuals being released back into the community, sometimes with tragic results.
Ivory’s family expressed their frustration, questioning how a system can allow such leniency for repeat offenders. “The laws in Texas should be designed to protect innocent lives, not to provide loopholes for those who repeatedly disregard them,” a family member told Fox 26 News.
ICE reiterated the importance of detainers, which request local law enforcement to notify ICE before releasing noncitizens with criminal records. “Detainers are critical for public safety,” ICE ERO Houston stated, emphasizing that honoring these requests minimizes the risk of reoffending.
This case is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was allegedly murdered by two Venezuelan nationals in the country illegally. The influx of over 1 million Venezuelan illegal immigrants under the Biden administration, coupled with sanctuary policies, has exacerbated public safety concerns.
Ivory’s family has launched a GoFundMe page to cover costs and seek justice. Her tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for immigration reform and accountability to protect innocent lives.
