During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Thursday, two grieving mothers, Tammy Nobles and Josephine Dunn, pointed fingers at the Biden administration for the tragic deaths of their daughters. Nobles’ daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was 20 when she was murdered by an MS-13 gang member in July 2022. Nobles is pursuing a $100 million lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging the agency’s negligent release of the known gang member into the U.S. Josephine Dunn’s daughter, Ashley, died at 26 due to fentanyl, a drug Dunn asserts is flooding the U.S. via the southern border, facilitated by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ policies.
Dunn directly blamed Mayorkas for her daughter’s death, stating, “In my view, Mr. Mayorkas’ border policy is partly to blame for my daughter’s death. His policies have turned Arizona into a major entry point for deadly fentanyl into our nation.” She highlighted the alarming surge in illegal border crossings since February 2021, linking them to the influx of fentanyl.
Nobles recounted the failures of DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in screening the MS-13 member responsible for her daughter’s death. She criticized the agencies for not conducting a thorough background check, including a physical inspection for gang-related tattoos and verifying his gang affiliations with the El Salvador government.
Nobles added, “The negligence of these departments allowed an MS-13 gang member, posing as a minor, to rent a room in a trailer park from another illegal immigrant. This lack of oversight and transparency, including DHHS’s refusal to share its audit report with Representative Jim Jordan, is appalling.”
The absence of Secretary Mayorkas at the hearing was a source of disappointment and frustration, especially for Dunn, who had traveled from Arizona hoping for answers. “I came all the way to confront him and ask ‘why?’ only to find he wasn’t even present,” Dunn expressed.
DHS, in response to the lawsuit, stated, “Our hearts are with Ms. Hamilton’s family. We do not comment on ongoing legal matters. DHS’s staff are dedicated to safeguarding our nation diligently.”
Requests for comments from DHS and HHS regarding the testimonies and allegations made at the hearing were not immediately answered.
House Impeachment Hearing: A Virginia mother whose daughter Kayla Hamilton was killed by an MS-13 murderer who brutally strangled and raped her testifies:
"If we had stricter border policies, my daughter would still be alive today."
This mom is suing DHS for $100 million for… pic.twitter.com/EbQ6mCHzR9
— Jennie Taer ???? (@JennieSTaer) January 18, 2024
This heartbreaking testimony sheds light on the personal toll of immigration and border policies, raising serious questions about the government’s responsibility and accountability in these tragic events.
