By Sarah A. Mansfield | Thursday, January 15, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials say the tragic death of 15‑year‑old Amber Paris was “entirely preventable,” placing blame squarely on Charlotte’s sanctuary city policies after an illegal immigrant suspect was released on bond before allegedly killing the teen in a hit-and-run crash.
ICE identified Julio Cesar Xocop‑Vicente, a Guatemalan national with prior convictions, as the suspect. He allegedly struck Amber while speeding through a Charlotte neighborhood on Nov. 25, fleeing the scene on foot. Law enforcement later arrested him on charges including felony hit-and-run, reckless driving, and driving without a license. But because Charlotte officials did not honor federal immigration detainers, Xocop‑Vicente was reportedly released on bond before ICE could take custody.
ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a written statement that while nothing can ease the Paris family’s grief, federal immigration enforcement must continue to target what his agency calls dangerous criminal aliens. “Sanctuary policies have real consequences,” Lyons said. “It’s heartbreaking, but this tragedy was preventable.”
The teen’s death and the subsequent arrest of Xocop‑Vicente on Jan. 12 by an ICE Fugitive Operations team came amid a broader federal enforcement campaign known as Operation Charlotte’s Web. Launched Nov. 15, 2025, the operation targets criminal aliens ICE alleges were released into Charlotte communities due to sanctuary policies.
According to ICE, more than 1,300 criminal aliens have been arrested under the operation, including individuals convicted of violent crimes, sexual offenses, and repeat illegal reentries. Federal authorities highlighted arrests of people with histories of homicide, lewd acts with minors, and burglary, calling them examples of the “worst of the worst.”
Local leaders in Charlotte have disputed the federal characterization of sanctuary policies, maintaining that cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents must respect constitutional rights and maintain community trust.
Still, federal officials insist that had immigration detainers been honored earlier, Xocop‑Vicente “should never have been released into the community,” a pointed criticism of sanctuary policies championed by city leadership. The Paris family has not yet released a statement, but the teen’s death has become a rallying point for critics of sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide.
ICE’s ongoing enforcement operations remain a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration policy and local cooperation with federal authorities.
Sarah A. Mansfield is a journalist covering the latest breaking news, delivering timely, accurate reporting on fast-moving stories as they unfold.
