The Department of Homeland Security is criticizing officials in Santa Clara County, California, after two illegal aliens accused of murdering a young mother were previously released without federal immigration authorities being notified, as reported by The New York Post.
Franquin Inestroza-Martinez, a Honduran national, and Gerzon Jose Chirinos-Munguia, also from Honduras, were arrested in Santa Clara County in connection with the killing of 24-year-old Kembery Chirinos-Flores earlier this month. Authorities allege the victim was shot with a shotgun.
According to DHS, Chirinos-Munguia is the father of the victim’s 5-year-old son and has a prior criminal history. He was arrested in 2018 for battery and false imprisonment, and again in 2019 for domestic battery and threatening crime with the intent of terrorizing.
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DHS said that in both instances, he was released back into California communities without Immigration and Customs Enforcement being notified.
Inestroza-Martinez, identified as an alleged accomplice, also had a history involving law enforcement. DHS stated he had an outstanding warrant from New Jersey for the homicide of a 55-year-old in March 2025.
Officials said he had previously been deported from the United States in 2013 and again in 2018 before illegally re-entering the country at an unknown time.
Heartbreaking tragedy out of Santa Clara County in California. A 24 year old mom named Kembery Chirinos Flores who worked two jobs to support her family was shot and killed in early January leaving her 5 year old son motherless. Two Honduran nationals are accused one previously… pic.twitter.com/jzFiU9ypjW
— Arkadalo ® (@Arkadalo) March 31, 2026
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Federal officials pointed to California’s sanctuary policies, specifically the California Value Act, as a factor limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The law restricts local police from inquiring about a suspect’s immigration status and limits coordination with ICE.
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis issued a statement addressing the case and the policies in place. “A man lost his life, and a child is now without a mother.
These illegal aliens should have never been able to commit these horrific killings and must NEVER be released from jail into American communities,” Bis said.
She also criticized local officials for declining to honor federal requests tied to immigration enforcement.
“Instead of cooperating with ICE, Santa Clara sanctuary politicians REFUSED to honor ICE’s arrest detainer and will not notify ICE when these murderers are released from jail. This insanity of refusing to turn cold-blooded killers over to ICE must end.”
The California Value Act was signed into law in 2017 following immigration enforcement actions during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The Trump administration challenged the law in court between 2017 and 2018, but the lawsuit was dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
The decision was upheld on appeal, and the Supreme Court declined to take up the case in 2020.
Local officials provided additional details following the arrests. Santa Clara Department of Public Safety Chief Dan Pistor spoke about the victim at a press briefing, stating, “Kembery was in the prime of her life. She was working two jobs, and she was the loving mother of a 5-year-old son.”
According to CBS News, the child was not harmed during the incident and has since been placed in the custody of child protective services.
Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the Santa Clara County Board president for comment but did not receive a response.
The case has drawn attention to the intersection of local sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement, particularly in cases involving individuals with prior arrests and outstanding warrants.
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