U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a statement following the sentencing of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, who was convicted for the 2023 murder of Rachel Morin in Maryland. Martinez-Hernandez, originally from El Salvador, entered the United States illegally and was released in 2023 during the Biden administration.
In April, a jury found Martinez-Hernandez guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering Morin. The incident began when Morin’s boyfriend reported her missing after she went hiking on August 5, 2023. Her body was discovered by law enforcement the next day.
“Today, Rachel Morin’s killer was sentenced to life without parole for her brutal murder. This criminal illegal alien should have never been in our country in the first place. Rachel should still be here watching her 5 children grow up,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “We hear far too much in the mainstream media about sob stories of gang members and criminal illegals and not enough about their victims. God bless Rachel and her family.”
Investigators determined that Martinez-Hernandez killed Morin by striking her with rocks and then raped her body before attempting to hide it in a drain.
Secretary Noem has re-opened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office as a resource for those affected by crimes involving immigration issues. The office was initially created in 2017 under the Trump administration but was closed during President Biden’s term.
If individuals or their families have been impacted by crimes committed by illegal aliens, they are encouraged to call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423).
