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Chicago Carpenter Faces Deportation After Acquittal in Murder-for-Hire Case
A Chicago carpenter who was recently cleared of accusations that he placed a $10,000 bounty on a Border Patrol commander’s life now faces deportation after being taken into immigration custody, his attorneys confirmed Tuesday.
Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, was acquitted of one count of murder-for-hire last week. Within 24 hours of the verdict, federal immigration agents detained him, according to defense attorneys Jonathan Bedi and Dena Singer.
Born in Mexico, Espinoza Martinez was brought to the United States as a young child. His wife, Bianca Hernandez, told the Chicago Tribune that he had previously been protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era initiative that shields certain undocumented immigrants from deportation. However, financial hardship prevented him from reapplying in 2020, according to his family.
“We were very, very happy because we knew that he didn’t do anything,” Hernandez told the Tribune. “But at the same time, it is a very bittersweet victory because he doesn’t actually get to come home.”
The case against Espinoza Martinez began in October when he was arrested amid a surge of federal immigration enforcement activity in Chicago and its suburbs. The city of 2.7 million was experiencing frequent protests and standoffs with immigration officers, particularly in the heavily Mexican Little Village neighborhood where Espinoza Martinez, a married father of three, resided.
Prosecutors accused him of sending Snapchat messages to his brother and a friend who turned out to be a longtime government informant. One message allegedly read “10k if u take him down,” accompanied by a picture of Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official who has led aggressive immigration crackdowns nationwide, including in the Chicago area.
The government’s case quickly showed signs of weakness during the trial. Federal prosecutors labeled Espinoza Martinez a “criminal illegal alien” and claimed he was a “ranking” member of the Latin Kings street gang. However, these claims unraveled when prosecutors failed to present supporting evidence, leading the judge to bar any mentions of gang affiliation during the trial.
“This verdict is a reminder that juries see through political prosecutions. They demand real evidence, not speculation and character assassination,” defense attorneys Bedi and Singer said in a joint statement. “The government didn’t have it. They never did.”
Following the acquittal, the Department of Homeland Security publicly disputed the jury’s decision, which came after less than four hours of deliberation. “This verdict does not change the facts: Espinoza targeted federal law enforcement with violence via Snapchat,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
The case has intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area. Operation Midway Blitz, the broader immigration crackdown that ensnared Espinoza Martinez, has resulted in approximately 30 criminal cases. However, roughly half of these have been dismissed or dropped, fueling skepticism about the operation’s legitimacy and effectiveness.
Immigration advocates point to Espinoza Martinez’s case as emblematic of broader concerns about enforcement tactics. Critics argue that his swift detention by immigration authorities following the acquittal suggests a determination to punish him despite the jury’s verdict.
The situation highlights the complex intersection of criminal and immigration law, where individuals can face deportation proceedings even after being cleared of criminal charges. For DACA recipients like Espinoza Martinez whose protection has lapsed, even an acquittal in criminal court provides no shield against removal from the country they’ve called home since childhood.
As Espinoza Martinez remains in immigration custody, his legal team continues to explore options to prevent his deportation to Mexico, a country he left as a young child decades ago.
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8 Comments
The acquittal on the criminal charges is positive, but the immigration issues are deeply worrying. Deportation could be a heavy punishment, especially given his long-standing ties to the US. I’ll be following this case closely to see how it’s resolved.
It’s good that the man was cleared of the murder-for-hire accusations, but the immigration issues are deeply concerning. Deportation would be a heavy punishment, especially if he was brought to the US as a child. I hope a just resolution can be found.
Acquittal on the criminal charges is positive, but the looming deportation is very worrying. As an immigrant brought to the US as a child, he may have strong ties here. I hope the immigration process considers all the nuances and reaches a fair outcome.
It’s good the man was cleared of the criminal charges, but the looming deportation is very concerning. As an immigrant brought to the US as a child, he may have strong ties here. I hope the immigration process carefully considers all the nuances of his situation.
This is a complex and troubling case. While the criminal charges were dropped, the immigration proceedings raise serious concerns. Deportation could be a severe punishment, especially for someone who has lived in the US since childhood. I’ll be following this closely.
It’s good the man was found not guilty, but the immigration issues complicate the situation. Deportation could be a severe consequence, especially for someone who has lived in the US since childhood. I’ll be following this case closely to see how it’s resolved.
This is a complex and troubling case. While the man was acquitted of the criminal charges, it’s concerning that he now faces potential deportation. I hope the immigration proceedings are fair and consider all the circumstances carefully.
This seems like a difficult situation with no easy answers. On one hand, the justice system found him not guilty of the criminal charges. But the immigration proceedings raise tricky questions about his status and protections. I’ll be curious to see how this unfolds.