A massive manhunt is underway in Texas for an illegal alien from Mexico named Franciso Oropesa who allegedly murdered multiple members of a neighboring family of migrants on Friday.
In discussing the ongoing situation on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called for more gun control laws but also predictably declined to mention one rather pertinent fact about the case -- that the suspected mass murderer was an illegal alien, the Daily Wire reported.
That is particularly relevant given the fact that Oropesa, by virtue of his illegal immigration status, was already in violation of federal law that prohibits him from possessing a firearm, much less that he also had violated federal immigration laws as well as state and local laws against assault and murder, among other alleged crimes.
During Monday's press briefing, Jean-Pierre said, "On Friday evening, a nine-year-old child was murdered along with four others in yet another shocking, horrific act of gun violence in America, this time in Cleveland, Texas."
"Two of the women killed were discovered on top of surviving children and appeared to be shielding them from gunfire. In all, five people were murdered by an individual armed with a powerful AR-15-style rifle," she continued. "As the manhunt for the suspected assailant continues, we urge the public to heed all guidance from law enforcement officials and stay safe."
The press secretary further stated that federal law enforcement was providing aid and support to state and local law enforcement in the hunt to apprehend the suspected killer, and noted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident on Saturday and, along with the first lady, was "praying for those killed in the attack, for their surviving loved ones, and for the broader Cleveland community."
"But the President believes prayers alone are not enough. Congress must act, because what makes tragedies like this one all the more heart-wrenching is the fact that it is entirely within our power to take these weapons of war off our streets," Jean-Pierre said.
She added, "The majority of Americans and the majority of gun owners support commonsense measures to reduce gun violence. The President continues to believe that Congress must act without delay. It’s not too late to save lives and prevent the next mass shooting."
KJP kicks off the briefing by discussing the shooting in Cleveland, Texas. Of course, there was no mention that the suspect was an illegal alien and wouldn't have been able to kill anyone if not for Biden's refusal to secure the border. pic.twitter.com/6e1uEbEsqf
— Kevin Tober (@KevinTober94) May 1, 2023
Notably absent from Jean-Pierre's remarks, according to the Daily Wire and Newsbusters analyst Kevin Tober, was any mention of the fact that the suspected killer was an illegal alien already prohibited under federal law from possessing any sort of firearms or ammunition, not to mention the fact that he wouldn't have been able to murder the neighboring family if her boss, President Biden, actually enforced the current border security and immigration laws that his administration has largely neglected.
According to the New York Post, Oropesa is accused of opening fire on his neighbors after a woman, Sonia Guzman, complained that his shooting would wake her sleeping baby. In response, Oropesa allegedly shot Guzman and four other members of her family, including a 9-year-old son, "execution-style" with shots to the head, per the local sheriff.
He then fled the scene, which prompted the massive and ongoing manhunt that includes local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Border Patrol. The alleged murderer is considered to be "armed and dangerous" and an $80,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to his apprehension.
The Post also reported that Oropesa is a 38-year-old Mexican national who has been deported out of the United States on at least four prior occasions since 2009, including twice in March and September of that year, a third time in 2012, and a fourth time in 2016.
It is unclear when he again re-entered the country following that last deportation in 2016, and given his prior record of multiple deportations and other crimes, including at least a 2012 conviction for drunk driving, he would be prohibited from re-entry and would be classified as an illegal alien.
