Trump Admin Begs Sanctuary Leaders Not To Release Illegal Migrant Accused Of Two Murders

ICE seeks custody of Angelvis Jesus Quintero Fernandez, an illegal migrant allowed into the U.S. under Biden and now accused of two separate murders in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:05pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting with overlapping geometric shapes in dark grey, navy, and crimson, conveying the urgency and chaos of the immigration enforcement issue through a non-literal visual metaphor.A fractured, high-energy illustration captures the tension between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary city policies that enabled a dangerous individual to allegedly commit multiple murders.Charlotte Today

Federal immigration authorities are seeking custody of Angelvis Jesus Quintero Fernandez, an illegal migrant allowed into the country under the Biden administration and now accused of two separate murders in Charlotte, North Carolina. Quintero Fernandez, a 22-year-old Venezuelan national, is accused of gunning down two people just months apart in Mecklenburg County, a sanctuary jurisdiction long known for refusing cooperation with immigration agents.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary cities, with the Trump administration calling on Charlotte officials to cooperate and not release the accused murderer back into the community. It also raises questions about the Biden administration's immigration policies that allegedly allowed Quintero Fernandez to enter the U.S. in the first place.

The details

Upon responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call on March 22, law enforcement officers discovered a victim with life-threatening injuries sustained from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital but died from his injuries on March 24. The ongoing investigation led law enforcement to Quintero Fernandez, who was already in Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office custody. Bullet casings found at the crime scene connected the Venezuelan man to another murder that took place in January, just a couple of miles away from the March 22 incident. Quintero Fernandez has since confessed to both murders and is currently being held in the Mecklenburg County jail.

  • On March 22, law enforcement responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call.
  • On March 24, the victim from the March 22 incident died from his injuries.
  • In January, another murder took place a couple miles away from the March 22 incident.

The players

Angelvis Jesus Quintero Fernandez

A 22-year-old Venezuelan national accused of committing two separate murders in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Garry McFadden

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff who has long refused to cooperate with ICE and repeatedly released criminal illegal migrants back into the community.

Lauren Bis

The Acting DHS Assistant Secretary who is calling on Charlotte sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing the accused murderer.

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What they’re saying

“Because of the Biden administration's disastrous CBP One app, this illegal alien was allowed to come into the country and commit these murders. We are calling on Charlotte sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer from jail back into our communities.”

— Lauren Bis, Acting DHS Assistant Secretary

“We need cooperation from sanctuary jurisdictions to make America safe again. No one wants this murderer in their communities.”

— Lauren Bis, Acting DHS Assistant Secretary

What’s next

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office did not respond to a request for comment, but it remains to be seen if they will cooperate with ICE's detainer request and keep Quintero Fernandez in custody.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing clash between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary city policies, with the Trump administration urging Charlotte officials to work with ICE and not release the accused murderer back into the community. It also raises concerns about the Biden administration's immigration policies that allegedly enabled Quintero Fernandez to enter the U.S. in the first place.