Aberdeen, Maryland – The mother of a 20-year-old autistic woman who was raped and murdered by an MS-13 gang member is suing the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) for operational negligence. Tammy Nobles, the mother of the victim, Kayla Hamilton, seeks $100 million in damages for the alleged violations of protocol in handling the migrant.
Nobles testified to the House Homeland Security Committee, emphasizing that this is not a political issue but a matter of safety for everyone living in the United States. She expressed her determination to fight for her daughter’s story to be heard and to bring awareness to the issue at the border.
According to Nobles, DHS failed to visually inspect the immigrant for gang-related tattoos, which would have disqualified him from entering U.S. soil. Her lawyer also claimed that DHS employees negligently failed to make a simple phone call to El Salvador authorities to ask about the migrant’s gang affiliations.
Furthermore, Nobles accuses DHS of improperly training and managing employees to screen minors trying to enter the U.S. from El Salvador. This operational negligence extended into the HHS, which allegedly did not verify a legitimate family member of the migrant before allowing him to enter the U.S.
The lawsuit also reveals that both departments lacked transparency by failing to provide Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a copy of an investigative report into Hamilton’s murder. The victim’s mother advocates for stronger border control, emphasizing that stricter policies could have prevented her daughter’s tragic death.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for DHS expressed condolences to the victim’s family but declined to comment. Similarly, an HHS spokesperson issued a statement but declined to comment on the litigation.
The lawsuit highlights the complexities and challenges of border security and immigration policies in the United States. It also underscores the devastating impact of gang violence on innocent individuals and families, sparking a broader conversation about the need for comprehensive reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.