Mother Sues US Government for $100 Million After MS-13 Gang Member Murders Daughter: Is Border Security Broken?

This heart-wrenching crime news story from Aberdeen, Maryland, has sparked outrage and questions about border security after a mother filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old woman with autism, was allegedly murdered by an MS-13 gang member who entered the country illegally.

On July 27, 2022, officers responded to a home for a reported cardiac arrest, only to find Kayla tragically strangled. Police identified a 17-year-old male suspect, reportedly an MS-13 member, who had rented a room in Kayla's home. In January 2023, he was charged with first-degree murder.

The lawsuit alleges "operational negligence" by DHS and HHS. Investigators discovered the teen, from El Salvador, had entered the country as an unaccompanied minor in 2020 and allegedly sported a gang-related tattoo. DHS protocol mandates investigation of such markings, the lawsuit claims. Had this protocol been followed, the boy's prior gang arrest in El Salvador in 2020 would have been discovered, leading to his deportation.

"They just needed one phone call to keep Kayla alive," says lawyer Brian Claypool.

Kayla's mother, Tammy Nobles, described her daughter as "kind, thoughtful, and funny" to a House panel investigating Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. She added that Kayla tried calling her boyfriend for help during the attack, but only reached his voicemail. Nobles poignantly shared how the suspect's voice could be heard on the 2-and-a-half-minute voicemail while he strangled Kayla.

Nobles, advocating for stricter immigration laws and proper enforcement of existing border policies, stated, "This is about everyone's safety, not politics. My daughter could have been anyone's. I will fight for Kayla's story and raise awareness about border security flaws to prevent another family from enduring this nightmare."

DHS responded with a statement expressing condolences but declined to comment on the pending litigation.

[SOURCE]