A quiet Atlanta suburb was shaken after a mother of five was allegedly killed by a man who, according to officials, was living in the U.S. illegally. The case has reignited fierce debates over immigration and public safety.
The Arrest That Sparked Outrage
Hector Sagastume Rivas, a 21-year-old from Honduras, now faces a felony murder charge. Authorities say he killed 52-year-old Camillia Williams in Marietta, Georgia. According to an arrest warrant, police allege he placed her in a chokehold before kneeling on her neck, using his full body weight.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Rivas crossed the border unlawfully over four years ago. Despite being detained and given a removal order in July 2023, he remained in the country. The details surrounding why the order wasn’t enforced remain unclear.
Political Fallout and National Response
The case quickly caught the attention of top political leaders. The Department of Homeland Security weighed in on social media, referencing former President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem’s hardline stance on illegal immigration.
Their statement declared, “President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal illegal aliens, including accused murderers, to be loose on America’s streets.” The message accompanied a screenshot of the developing news story.
Officials from ICE, DHS, and Cobb County Police have yet to provide further comment. CNN continues to pursue responses, including efforts to determine whether Sagastume Rivas has legal representation.
A Family’s Grief and a Community’s Fear
Williams’ family, now left to navigate life without her, remembers her as a dedicated mother and grandmother. Her loved ones shared photos and stories with local reporters, painting a picture of a woman who embraced her family with warmth and strength.
- “She was our rock,” one relative said.
- Neighbors described her as kind-hearted, someone who always made time for others.
Community members have voiced both grief and fear. Many are asking how someone with an active removal order remained in the country and how this could happen in their quiet neighborhood.
Immigration Policy Under Scrutiny
This case fuels ongoing debates about border security and immigration enforcement. Statistics from the Department of Homeland Security show that in fiscal year 2024, over 180,000 individuals with final removal orders remained in the U.S.
A breakdown of those figures includes:
| Category | Number Remaining in U.S. |
|---|---|
| Criminal convictions | 45,000 |
| Pending criminal charges | 28,000 |
| No criminal history | 107,000 |
Immigration advocates argue the system remains overburdened and under-resourced, making it difficult to process cases swiftly. Opponents, meanwhile, highlight stories like Williams’ murder to call for stricter enforcement.
One thing is certain — this tragedy has brought immigration enforcement back to the forefront of national conversation.
