Federal authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that a Mexican man accused of stabbing three people, including two children who died from their injuries, is in the U.S. illegally.
Victor Manuel Gomez-Acosta, a Mexican illegal immigrant, faces charges of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree homicide, and operating under the influence after his arrest in Abbotsford, Wisconsin.
The Colby-Abbotsford Police Department reported that two children were found dead at the scene with stab wounds, while an adult woman, who was also stabbed, received medical treatment. Gomez-Acosta was discovered inside the residence with self-inflicted stab wounds and was apprehended and transported to a medical center.
According to WQOW, the victims are Gomez-Acosta’s wife and daughters. The criminal complaint states that the children were found in one of their bedrooms, one having been stabbed 16 times and the other 20 times. His wife reportedly suffered approximately 17 stab wounds, one of which severed her vocal cords.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to Fox News Digital that Gomez-Acosta is in the country illegally and that it has placed a detainer on him following his arrest on July 9. A detainer is a request that, once released from custody, he be transferred to ICE for deportation.
Gomez-Acosta entered the U.S. legally in September 2016, via the port of entry in Laredo, Texas. However, he failed to depart at the specified time as part of his entry conditions, according to the agency.
This incident comes just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where illegal immigration and border security are expected to be prominent topics. These issues have been highlighted as top priorities for voters ahead of the November election.
Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for exacerbating the ongoing border crisis, which has seen record numbers over the past three years. They attribute the crisis to policies such as narrowing ICE enforcement and reversing Trump-era policies like wall construction and the Remain-in-Mexico policy.
“Time and time again, we have seen the tragic consequences of Joe Biden’s border crisis; yet, the president refuses to reverse course,” Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital. “No town is immune, even our towns up north in Wisconsin are feeling the horrific impact.”
The Biden administration has responded by stating it is dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis that requires funding and reforms from Congress to address what it describes as a “broken” immigration system. It has cited efforts including a recent executive order that has limited entries and resulted in a short-term reduction of 40%. Additionally, the administration claims that a majority of southern encounters over the past three fiscal years have led to removal, return, or expulsion.