The recent tragic events in Charlotte, North Carolina, have reignited debates over “sanctuary” policies following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant accused of murdering two teenagers. Federal authorities contend these crimes could have been avoided.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer for Aristides Eli Orellana-Ramirez, a national of El Salvador, as announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Orellana-Ramirez faces charges in the deaths of 16-year-old Bravlio Galeano Ayala and 18-year-old Samir Canales Molina.

“This is yet another devastating loss of life due to a criminal undocumented immigrant,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of DHS. “Both victims were just teenagers, with their entire futures ahead of them. Their lives were cruelly cut short by someone who should never have been in our country.”

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police reported that gunshots rang out around 3:30 a.m. on December 20, 2025, in the southwest part of the city. Tragically, both teenagers succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital.

As detailed by DHS, ICE has placed an “arrest detainer” on Aristides Eli Orellana-Ramirez, the undocumented immigrant from El Salvador accused of the murders of two young individuals in Charlotte.

In a chilling discovery, investigators revealed that the bodies of the victims were located over six miles apart. Detectives suggest that the teenagers were shot at the same place and during the same incident before attempting to escape to seek help.

While the investigation remains ongoing, the case has already become a political lightning rod.

According to DHS, Orellana-Ramirez entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location without inspection.

Samir Canales Molina, left, and Bravlio Galeano Ayala were killed, and DHS says sanctuary policies and ignored ICE detainers allowed a criminal illegal immigrant to remain free before the deadly attack. (Department of Homeland Security)

The killings come as federal authorities ramp up pressure on jurisdictions that refuse to honor ICE detainers, a practice DHS says allows criminal aliens to cycle back onto the streets.

ICE reported in November that local authorities across North Carolina failed to honor nearly 1,400 detainers, instead releasing criminal aliens back into communities.

ICE lodged an arrest detainer for Aristides Eli Orellana-Ramirez, an illegal alien from El Salvador charged with murdering two teenagers in Charlotte, according to DHS. (iStock)

During Operation Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte officials publicly vowed to resist immigration enforcement actions and stand up for the migrant community.

“Unfortunately, North Carolina’s sanctuary politicians often REFUSE to allow us into their jails and release these known criminals back into American communities,” McLaughlin said. “President Trump and Secretary Noem launched Operation Charlotte’s Web to target these criminals and get them out of American neighborhoods.”

Operation Charlotte’s Web deployed increased federal resources to Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas to target “high-threat” illegal aliens with violent criminal histories.