GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The man charged with murder in the killing of a 25-year-old Grand Rapids woman entered the US illegally as a child, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite confessed to killing 25-year-old Ruby Garcia on March 22 and leaving her body on US 131. He is facing felony murder, open murder, carjacking and two weapons charges in her death. It is believed that Garcia and Ortiz-Vite were in a relationship.
Ortiz-Vite was previously approved for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. An ICE Spokesperson said his status under DACA expired on May 10, 2019.
DACA recipients, sometimes referred to as "dreamers," in many cases were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
Ortiz-Vite had previous run-ins with law enforcement in West Michigan, including a charge of illegal entry without owner’s permission in Wyoming in 2018 and a charge of driving while unlicensed in 2017.
When he was arrested in August 2020, ICE deemed him "inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)."
An immigration judge ordered him removed and he was deported to Mexico on Sept. 29, 2020, ICE said.
At a later date, Ortiz-Vite entered the U.S. illegally.
Detroit's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) lodged a detainer with the Kent County Jail for Ortiz-Vite.
A detainer is an ICE request to state or local law enforcement to notify ICE as early as possible before a noncitizen is released from custody.
The situation has caused some in the political realm to call for policy change amid a death they believe, should the charges be true, was avoidable.
Former President Donald Trump announced plans to come to Grand Rapids, Michigan on Tuesday, in response to the woman's killing. He plans to highlight U.S. border policy.
Garcia has been remembered as a loving, funny person who could brighten any room.
"Ruby's love for plants and traveling came nothing close to her affectionate smile that illuminated the room or contagious laughter that recreated the atmosphere," reads her obituary. "She cared so deeply for the people around her—so kind and passionate. She's made an impact on many lives. She will be forever missed."
Garcia was laid to rest last Friday. You can read Ruby's obituary here.
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