Sen. Marsha Blackburn on Tuesday railed against migrants while commenting on two suspects — whom she called "vicious animals" — who police said were involved in the murder of a 12-year-old girl.
“Hopefully they lock [the suspects] up,” the Tennessee Republican told Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner in an interview, “they will upgrade that crime. They will seek the death penalty for these vicious animals that have come into this country illegally, and have carried out this crime, and thought they were going to get by with it, thought they could leave the country.”
Blackburn referred to the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston earlier this month. The two suspects arrested and charged with her murder were found to be undocumented immigrants, who crossed the border illegally and were released into the country with a notice to appear before federal immigration authorities.
Immigration and border security have become key issues in the upcoming general election. In his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has used Nungaray’s death as an example of how Biden’s border policies have failed the country.
“Every town is a border town, every state a border state, and Joe Biden and his administration are doing nothing to address this,” Blackburn said.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Jocelyn Nungaray,” a White House spokesperson said. "But fundamentally, anyone found guilty of this type of heinous and shocking crime should be held accountable, to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We need to lock these people up,” Blackburn continued. “Lock them up when we come in contact with these criminal, illegal aliens, and deport them from the country.”
