{"id":17290,"date":"2018-06-25T16:31:12","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T20:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=17290"},"modified":"2018-12-28T10:20:23","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T15:20:23","slug":"criminal-alien-burns-texas-city-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2018\/06\/25\/criminal-alien-burns-texas-city-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Alien Burns Texas City, Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

An illegal alien with a history of \u201ccriminal mischief\u201d has been charged with murder, arson and mutilation of a corpse<\/a> in San Antonio \u2013 even as city officials contest Texas\u2019s anti-sanctuary law.<\/p>\n

Ernesto Esquivel-Garcia, 20, is being held on a $195,000 bond and a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.<\/p>\n

The grisly case is garnering additional interest as family members of the victim, 20-year-old Jared Vargas, accuse San Antonio Police of slow-walking their missing-person report and asking them to stay quiet about the incident.<\/p>\n

The family said the evidence pointed to Esquivel-Garcia , noting that Jared\u2019s car was parked at the apartment complex where Esquivel-Garcia lived.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Police Chief William] McManus and his legal team have told the family not to go public about the case,\u201d a family friend said.<\/p>\n

McManus is under investigation<\/a> by the Texas Attorney General\u2019s Office for possible violation of the state\u2019s anti-sanctuary law in the release of 12 illegal aliens last December. San Antonio is among the cities waging a prolonged court battle<\/a> to overturn Senate Bill 4.<\/p>\n

Police say they acted properly in the Vargas murder case, and deny asking the family to stay mum.<\/p>\n

Court records show\u00a0Esquivel-Garcia was charged in March 2017 with obstructing a highway, intoxication and criminal mischief. But he was soon back on the streets. ICE did not say why no detainer was placed on Esquivel-Garcia at that time.<\/p>\n

ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda could not confirm any details about Esquivel-Garcia. The agency did not explain how the illegal alien obtained employment at a trendy area restaurant, where the victim also worked.<\/p>\n

Esquivel-Garcia was apprehended when he was stopped for a traffic violation \u2013 two days after Vargas\u2019s charred body was found in an apartment previously occupied by Esquivel-Garcia.<\/p>\n

Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, believes officers handled the case properly. But he told FAIR:<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Antonio is a place illegals flock to because the chief and mayor will not enforce [laws]or assist Homeland Security. For them to say they will do so going forward is too little, too late. The damage is done.\u201d