GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The killing of a 25-year-old Grand Rapids woman, Ruby Garcia, is raising questions about border security. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, Garcia's boyfriend who confessed to killing her, is in the country illegally.
Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE, confirmed that Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a citizen of Mexico, was in the United States Illegally. Ortiz-Vite has a history of criminal charges that date back years in West Michigan, including illegally entering a Wyoming home in 2018. He was deported in 2020 and re-entered the U.S. sometime after that.
Pete Hoekstra, the Chairman of Michigan Republican Party said Ruby Garcia's slaying was avoidable.
"It's why we really do need to secure our border, we're in favor of immigration. But let's manage our immigration process. You know, personally, I'm an immigrant. My parents emigrated, you know, we came through a process. And that's what we need to get back to," said Hoekstra.
U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten said this is a bipartisan issue. In a statement to WZZM, she stated, "My heart breaks for Ruby Garcia and her family as they grapple with this unspeakable tragedy. The individual who committed this heinous crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I'm continuing to push for bipartisan immigration reform that both secures our border and makes sure that individuals who come to our country are fully vetted to keep our communities safe."
Brandon Ortiz-Vite is being held without bond in the Kent County jail until his next court hearing.
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