Capitol police arrested an illegal immigrant from Venezuela after he was found to be carrying a brick, a knife, and a machete outside of the building and showed "strange behavior."
The individual was identified as 23-year-old Jose Leonardo Marquez, previously released from custody by federal border authorities. Due to his recent actions, US Capitol Police took him into custody on the afternoon of Dec. 26 after he illegally entered the country.
Capitol Police Arrest Illegal Immigrant Carrying Machete
A press release from the USCP noted that an officer observed Marquez's "strange behavior" and approached him to check the situation. The law enforcement personnel talked with the individual and noticed a brick inside his pocket. The illegal immigrant tossed the item to the site as requested by the officer.
After the individual complied with the police officer's request, he also took out a knife and placed it on a ledge at the Capitol building. According to Fox News, authorities later said that the observant officer also noticed a handle under the man's clothing.
He then proceeded to call for backup as he drew his gun and ordered Marquez to put his hands up in the air. Officials later found a machete on his person and immediately arrested the illegal immigrant.
Law enforcement authorities then charged the illegal immigrant with carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that Marquez entered the country through El Paso, Texas, on an unknown date and was arrested on Aug. 21, 2022.
The agency said that border patrol released him from custody "due to a lack of detention capacity" and enrolled him in the tracking program known as "Alternatives to Detention." Marquez later reported to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5, 2023.
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Migrant Crisis in the US
Marquez is among an untold number of people who have illegally entered the United States and were once arrested and released but later found to have committed crimes. The list of recent ICE ERO removals includes a Chilean military officer who was wanted for kidnapping and murder, a Brazilian fugitive who was wanted for rape, and Guatemalans wanted for murder and rape, according to The Center Square.
The situation comes as United States President Joe Biden is weighing major changes to US immigration policy following the new year's celebrations. The Democrat is looking at toughening border enforcement and addressing an issue that has emerged as one of his biggest political vulnerabilities.
The president has been facing exceptionally high levels of migration at the southern border with Mexico as Republicans continue their criticism of Biden's response to the crisis. On Wednesday, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The meeting was held to conduct talks to limit the number of migrants reaching the US southwestern border. Furthermore, a bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers has been engaged in talks with the White House over a border deal that would provide aid to Israel and Ukraine, according to The Guardian.
