Breaking: Illegal Arrested for Brutal 2023 Stabbing Death of Immigrant Activist [Video]

Daphne Moon 0 2 min read

The brutal 2023 stabbing death of Illinois immigrant activist Emma Shafer has culminated in the arrest of her illegal alien boyfriend in Mexico, a case that exposes the catastrophic failures of a broken immigration system and the left’s deadly prioritization of ideology over American lives. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the arrest of 27-year-old Gabriel Calixto-Picardo, finally bringing a measure of justice for a murder that should have been prevented.

This tragedy is a direct result of a weak immigration framework that the Biden administration perpetuated and that President Donald Trump has long warned against. Calixto was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child and had DACA status until he was jailed for the horrific kidnapping of a previous girlfriend, Kathryn O’Brien. Instead of being deported for his violent felony, he was released from prison in 2021 and his deportation case was dropped because he was granted asylum over fears of torture in Mexico.

This chain of events represents a profound dereliction of duty by immigration authorities, who allowed a violent criminal to walk free and victimize again. Just two years after his release by immigration officials, Calixto was accused of murdering Shafer in her own home. The Sangamon County Coroner confirmed Shafer sustained multiple sharp force injuries, a horrifying end for a young woman described by her obituary as someone who “radiated love and light.”

The liberal media and activist class have consistently ignored such stories, as they shatter their narrative that illegal immigrants pose no threat and that open borders are a compassionate policy. Their silence on this case is deafening, preferring to protect a political agenda rather than the lives of American citizens like Emma Shafer.

Secretary Noem rightly highlighted this murder during a visit to Springfield, using it as a crucial example of the very real human cost of failed policies. In a stunning display of misplaced priorities, Shafer’s mother, along with activist allies, protested Noem’s appearance. They released a statement condemning Noem, saying, “To see her used by Secretary Noem and others to advance a cruel and heartless political agenda is not just deeply painful to us – it is an insult to her memory.”

This sentiment completely misses the point. The true insult to Emma Shafer’s memory is the system that allowed her alleged killer to remain in the country despite a known history of extreme violence against women. The agenda being advanced is one of public safety and the rule of law—principles that President Trump has always fiercely defended.

The facts of Calixto’s immigration history are damning. As WAND-TV reported, his DACA status expired while he was in prison for kidnapping, making him ineligible due to his felony conviction. Yet, he was not removed. Court records show U.S. Attorneys declined to prosecute him for improper entry, and his claim for asylum—based on a fear of harm in Mexico due to his severe mental illness—was granted.

This case is a textbook example of why the strong border policies and strict immigration enforcement championed by President Trump are not just political positions but necessary measures to protect innocent Americans. The left’s advocacy for sanctuary cities, catch-and-release, and the dismantling of effective enforcement mechanisms directly leads to preventable tragedies.

While the left offers thoughts and prayers and blames inanimate objects, President Trump offers solutions and security. His commitment to building the wall, implementing Remain in Mexico, and empowering ICE to do its job stands in stark contrast to an administration that created this crisis. The arrest of Gabriel Calixto-Picardo is a first step, but it does not bring back Emma Shafer. Only a fundamental restoration of law and order at our border can prevent the next needless death.

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