On January 14, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported the arrest of Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente, a Guatemalan national living illegally in the United States. Xocop-Vicente is accused of causing the death of Amber Paris, a 15-year-old American citizen, after running a stop sign while speeding in Charlotte, North Carolina. Following the incident on November 24, 2025, Xocop-Vicente fled the scene on foot.
Amber Paris was hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma but died from her injuries on December 18, 2025.
“My heart is with Amber’s family — and although nothing can ease the pain of losing a child, ICE will continue arresting and removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from North Carolina and across the country,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “Sanctuary policies have real consequences, and this is one of them. It’s heartbreaking, but this tragedy was preventable. ICE isn’t waiting for another tragedy to take action; we are out on the streets every day to arrest and remove public safety threats so this doesn’t happen to another child.”
Local law enforcement arrested Xocop-Vicente shortly after the incident and charged him with driving without a license, reckless driving, and felony hit-and-run. However, he was released on bond before ICE could issue an immigration detainer. The charge for driving without a license was dismissed by local authorities on December 2 while Amber Paris remained hospitalized.
Xocop-Vicente had previously been convicted in Charlotte for driving under the influence and driving without a license in 2023; his record also includes an earlier arrest for assault on a female. According to ICE officials, nearly 1,400 immigration detainers issued across North Carolina have not been honored by local jurisdictions due to sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Despite these challenges, ICE Fugitive Operations apprehended Xocop-Vicente during a targeted enforcement operation on January 12. He remains in federal custody pending removal proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Charlotte’s Web on November 15, 2025 as an effort to locate and arrest individuals considered criminal illegal aliens who remain at large due to local sanctuary policies in Charlotte. As part of this initiative, DHS reports that more than 1,300 such individuals have been arrested so far.
Among those recently taken into custody during Operation Charlotte’s Web are several individuals convicted of serious crimes including homicide, sexual offenses involving minors, burglary, robbery, drug possession charges linked to gang activity or multiple felony convictions related to previous deportations.
