ABERDEEN, MARYLAND – A mother is filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services after her daughter was raped and killed by an MS-13 gang member in 2022. The mother alleges that the federal agencies failed to stop the suspect at the border, leading to the tragic incident. The lawsuit seeks $100 million in damages and accuses the government of negligence.
The incident, which took place in July 2020, saw the victim, 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton, strangled with a phone cord by a 16-year-old suspect from El Salvador. The lawsuit claims that both agencies failed to properly verify the suspect’s status and allowed him to be placed in a holding facility, where he ultimately ran away and ended up as the victim’s roommate.
In an emotional interview, the mother expressed her frustration, stating that the federal government’s failure to properly screen the suspect led to the loss of her daughter’s life. She emphasized the need for greater awareness of border security issues and urged accountability for the agencies involved.
The family’s attorney also condemned the government’s handling of the situation, alleging that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services played a role in the tragic outcome. He emphasized the need for more rigorous border security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The suspect was arrested in January 2023 and charged with first-degree murder, as well as rape and robbery. It was confirmed that he was a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. The tragic case has prompted scrutiny of the Biden administration’s border policies, with lawmakers calling for accountability and improvement in border security measures.
As the family prepares for the federal trial in June, they hope to shed light on the need for stricter border control and accountability for federal agencies. The lawsuit serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of failures in border security and immigration enforcement.