ICE arrests illegal immigrant Illinois teacher linked to Tren de Aragua mass shooting

A erstwhile Illinois teacher surviving successful the United States illegally, who was allegedly progressive successful a 2024 Tren de Aragua wide shooting that killed 3 radical astatine a Chicago location party, was arrested by national authorities, officials said Monday.

Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, 32, an amerciable migrant from Venezuela with dual citizenship successful Italy, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents connected May 13, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

Occhipinti entered the U.S. successful October 2021 nether the Visa Waiver Program and was expected to permission by Jan. 2, 2022. She overstayed her visa, DHS said.

On the nighttime of the Dec. 2, 2024, shooting, she allegedly drove the 2 gunmen—Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Cermeno—to the country of the crime, wherever 5 radical were injured successful summation to the 3 fatalities, authorities said.

TWO ILLEGAL VENEZUELAN IMMIGRANTS, SUSPECTED TDA GANG MEMBERS CHARGED IN DEADLY CHICAGO MASS SHOOTING

Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, 32, a erstwhile Illinois teacher and amerciable immigrant, was allegedly progressive successful a December 2024 wide shooting that near 3 radical dormant astatine a Chicago location party. (Department of Homeland Security)

"Although Chicago constabulary arrested this amerciable alien soon aft the shooting, sanctuary politicians released her from jailhouse without notifying ICE," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said successful a statement. "Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, DHS is doing the occupation that sanctuary politicians successful Illinois garbage to do: putting the American radical archetypal and removing these unsafe criminals from our communities."

Martinez Cermeno was released from ICE custody successful January 2025 aft a national justice determined that national prosecutors failed to conscionable their load of impervious to support him incarcerated portion awaiting trial.

Immediately aft the shooting, authorities recovered aggregate weapons successful Occhipinti’s vehicle, DHS said. Authorities judge she helped Granadillo Padilla and Martinez Cermeno evade instrumentality enforcement aft the attack.

HUNDREDS OF JAILED ILLEGAL ALIENS RELEASED BACK ONTO BLUE-STATE STREETS DESPITE ICE DETAINERS, RECORDS SHOW

Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Cermeno are the alleged gunmen progressive successful a shooting that near 3 radical dormant astatine a Chicago location party. (Department of Homeland Security)

The Chicago Police Department arrested Occhipinti connected Dec. 5, 2024, connected charges of unlawful usage of weapons and different weapons offenses. However, she was released without ICE ever being notified nether Chicago's sanctuary policies, which support amerciable immigrants from national migration authorities.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s bureau decided not to prosecute the suspects, DHS said, and Granadillo Padilla and Martinez Cermeno were yet deported.

"Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti’s actions were calculated and deliberate, starring to the nonaccomplishment of 3 lives," said HSI Chicago Special Agent successful Charge Matthew Scarpino. "I’m arrogant of our agents for pursuing this lawsuit to the end, ensuring that everyone who helped facilitate this wide homicide is brought to justice."

ICE ARREST OF MIGRANT SPARKS ANGER PROTEST BEFORE VIOLENT GANG TIES EXPOSED

Fox News was told by DHS that Occhipinti was a teacher astatine an unspecified schoolhouse successful the Chicago suburb of Elgin. Illinois officials person refused to cooperate with national authorities and volition not archer DHS the sanction of the school, Fox News has learned.

A limb recovered aft 3 amerciable immigrants were progressive successful a wide shooting astatine a Chicago enactment that near 3 radical deal, authorities said. (Department of Homeland Security)

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Occhipinti is being held astatine the Grayson County Detention Center successful Leitchfield, Kentucky.