Incident Overview
Federal authorities have reported that a man accused of stabbing another individual on the light rail system in Charlotte, North Carolina, had previously been deported twice.
The Department of Homeland Security announced on Saturday that they are working to deport Honduran national Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia for a third time following his arrest for attempted murder on Friday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed outrage over the incident, stating, This heinous stabbing by this twice removed illegal alien should have never happened. She added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed an arrest detainer to prevent Solorzano-Garcia from being released back into the community, although she noted concerns about local cooperation with ICE.
According to court documents, 33-year-old Solorzano-Garcia boarded the train around 4:45 p.m. on Friday while intoxicated and began yelling at passengers. He then challenged another man to a fight before stabbing him with a large knife. The victim was taken to a hospital and is currently in critical but stable condition.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have charged Solorzano-Garcia with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, and public intoxication. Following his arrest, ICE issued a deportation detainer for him.
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin revealed that Solorzano-Garcia has previous convictions for robbery and illegal reentry into the United States. His criminal record includes arrests for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and other offenses.
The DHS confirmed that Solorzano-Garcia was first deported in March 2018. He was apprehended at the border again in 2021 but it remains unclear when he re-entered the U.S.
Former President Donald Trump criticized the Democratic leadership of Charlotte following this incident. He remarked on social media about ongoing violence linked to illegal immigration in the city.
