ICE Pursues Deported Illegal Alien Suspect in Texas Shooting
Juan Ayala-Montero, a previously deported Mexican illegal immigrant with convictions including homicide, was arrested after allegedly shooting one person in Texas on Memorial Day weekend.
Federal immigration authorities have placed a detainer on the suspect, seeking custody after local law enforcement apprehended him at the scene, according to Breitbart News.
Juan Ayala-Montero, a 60-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, faces federal charges for unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal immigrant following the May 23 incident in Montgomery County.
Court documents reveal that Ayala-Montero allegedly became involved in a heated argument with a group of individuals before leaving the scene. He then reportedly returned to his residence, retrieved a rifle, and came back to open fire on the group.
One victim suffered gunshot wounds to both the torso and head during the attack. Responding officers arrived to the sound of active gunfire and immediately began evacuating people from the area before taking Ayala-Montero into custody.
Arsenal Recovered From Suspect’s Home
Law enforcement officers recovered an Olympic Arms .223 caliber AR-style rifle equipped with a scope from the suspect’s bedroom. Investigators also collected approximately 30 spent .223 shell casings from the shooting scene.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a detainer request with Montgomery County authorities, instructing them not to release Ayala-Montero until federal agents can assume custody.
Extensive Criminal Past Spans Decades
ICE officials confirm that Ayala-Montero has accumulated a substantial criminal record that includes prior convictions for homicide, assault, driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault with a firearm, and trespassing.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Lauren Bis emphasized the gravity of the case, noting that the suspect had already been removed from the country once before and now faces federal weapons charges.
Bis praised Texas authorities for their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, stating that partnership efforts would ensure the dangerous criminal would be prevented from threatening American communities again.
Decades-Long Pattern of Illegal Entry
Records show Ayala-Montero first illegally crossed the United States-Mexico border into Arizona in 1983. He was deported to Mexico in 2006 after accumulating his criminal convictions.
Just one year after his removal, Ayala-Montero illegally re-entered the United States in 2007—an act that constitutes a federal felony offense. He remained in the country unlawfully until his arrest this week.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about criminal illegal aliens who repeatedly violate immigration laws and continue to pose threats to public safety in American communities.
With information from Breitbart News
