A deadly workplace stabbing in Michigan has intensified debate over border enforcement and the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies, with federal officials linking the murder suspect to a prior release at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The incident occurred June 29 in Coldwater, Michigan, a community situated between Chicago and Detroit. Authorities say a 20-year-old worker at a pork processing facility became involved in a dispute with a co-worker before allegedly stabbing him. The suspect, identified as Haitian national Valmir Djempsly, was reportedly in the United States illegally after being released under Biden-era catch-and-release procedures.
BREAKING: DHS confirms that a suspect arrested for murder after he allegedly stabbed his coworker to death at a Michigan meat plant is a Haitian illegal alien who was caught and released at the Texas border by the Biden administration in 2024. ICE has placed a detainer on Valmir… pic.twitter.com/J5fSboRFPp
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 8, 2026
According to a report shared by Bill Melugin, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the suspect arrested in the Michigan meat plant killing is a Haitian illegal immigrant who had been apprehended and released at the Texas border in 2024. ICE has since lodged a detainer against Valmir Djempsly, who is now facing a murder charge.
DHS issued the following statement:
“This illegal alien barbarically stabbed his coworker to death,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This murderer was released into American communities by the Biden Administration. If it weren’t for the reckless open border policies of the Biden Administration, this criminal never would have been in our country in the first place and his victim would still be alive. We have lodged a detainer asking Michigan to not release this dangerous criminal from jail without notifying ICE.”
Court records filed in Branch County’s 3-A District Court state that Coldwater police were called to The Clemons Meat Processing Plant at 572 Newton Road shortly after 7:41 p.m. following a report of a stabbing.
Officers found the victim, identified as Brandon Eduardo Vasquez-Chavez, unresponsive with a single stab wound to the lower back. Despite efforts to save him, Vasquez-Chavez was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:19 p.m.
Djempsley was detained by Branch County Sheriff’s Sgt. Paulino Hernandez after witnesses identified him as the suspect.
Multiple witnesses told investigators that Djempsley and Vasquez-Chavez had been involved in a verbal argument moments before the stabbing. Witnesses reported seeing Djempsley confront the victim about a knife, then chase him and lunge toward his back with the weapon in a production area of the plant.
After Djempsley was Mirandized, he allegedly admitted that he argued with the victim and used the weapon, but claimed it was because he was head-butted. That part was not corroborated by witnesses. There could be security cameras in the processing plant that may confirm the eyewitness accounts, and police are in possession of the knife.
Gov. Mike DeWine Bemoans Damage to Ohio’s Economy and Communities After SCOTUS Ends Haitian TPS. Really?
Djempsley appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday. Bond was denied due to public safety concerns and flight risk, Judge Weigle also noted Djempsley has an ICE hold.
He is scheduled for a preliminary examination on July 10 at 9:30 a.m. Open murder carries a possible life sentence under Michigan law. Djempsley remains in custody at the Branch County Jail.
Republicans like Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) decry the revocation of temporary protected status (TPS) of Haitians and how this will be a loss of good workers and a detriment to the economy. Lawler is still pushing legislation to try to keep them here, claiming that the crime, drug trafficking, and fractious conditions in Haiti are too dangerous to send them back.
While I have never disputed the ability of the President to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), I strongly disagree with ending Haitian TPS at this time.
First, the situation on the ground in Haiti is a humanitarian and political disaster and continues to warrant an extension.… https://t.co/MRKsa19prQ
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) June 25, 2026
While I have never disputed the ability of the President to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), I strongly disagree with ending Haitian TPS at this time.
First, the situation on the ground in Haiti is a humanitarian and political disaster and continues to warrant an extension. The State Department has a level 4 travel advisory telling all Americans to evacuate and not travel there precisely because the gangs are in charge of the country, engaged in gun and drug trafficking, and kidnapping innocent Haitians. We want to root it out and allow for a stable government to be establish with a free a fair election, creating the conditions for a safe return for Haitians.
Second, of the 350,000+ lawful Haitian TPS holders, roughly 1/3rd work in our healthcare system. Immediately shutting off TPS will create a crisis in our hospitals, nursing homes, and in the I/DD community.
I’m asking the administration to allow for an orderly process by which Haitian TPS holders can maintain their work authorization while their immigration cases are adjudicated over the next six months, if the revocation of TPS moves forward.
Furthermore, I believe the Senate should take up my legislation with Congresswoman Gillen to temporarily extend Haitian TPS to address these issues.
One can argue that these men are not representative of the purportedly hardworking Haitians that Lawler and DeWine are trying to protect. But evidence to the contrary continues to add up the more of these murders and accidents unfold.
And what of the victims’ families? The Florida Bangladeshi woman who in April was bludgeoned to death, allegedly by a TPS Haitian, Rolbert Joachin, leaving two children without a mother. Or the family of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., who on July 1 was run over, allegedly by Haitian illegal alien Michael Bon. These are the most recent crimes allegedly perpetrated by Haitian illegal aliens and TPS Haitians, not including the criminal gangs and the fraud rings occupying the attention of the FBI and the Fraud Task Force.
Did this latest victim, Brandon Eduardo Vasquez-Chavez, have family? We may never know. But to lose one’s life over supposedly being head-butted borders on senseless, which explains to a “T” the actions of the prior administration and the broken immigration system, which only served to facilitate and further these tragedies.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law-and-order agenda.
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