The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated the process to deport Yordanis Cobos‑Martinez, an undocumented immigrant from Cuba, after his arrest for the brutal murder of Indian national Chandra Nagamallaiah in Dallas, Texas.
The move comes in response to a violent crime that has sparked outrage and renewed debate over immigration enforcement. Cobos‑Martinez, 37, faces a capital murder charge.
He is accused of beheading Nagamallaiah at a motel on September 10, then disposing of the victim’s head in a bin.
Officials say that in the confrontation, Cobos‑Martinez used a machete and, in a horrifying act, kicked Nagamallaiah’s head afterwards.
Prior Offences & ICE Detainer
DHS highlighted Cobos‑Martinez’s criminal history, including charges of child sex abuse, grand theft of a motor vehicle, false imprisonment, and carjacking.
After Dallas Police arrested Cobos‑Martinez, ICE lodged a detainer with the Dallas County Jail, which is now holding him.
ICE had previously held him at a detention centre but released him in January 2025 under an Order of Supervision, a measure critics say kept him in the country despite his criminal record.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin blamed the previous Biden administration, stating that it released Cobos‑Martinez despite Cuba’s refusal to repatriate him.
Representative Ro Khanna (Democrat – California) condemned the crime, describing it as horrific, especially given the presence of the victim’s family during the incident. He criticised the system that allowed an individual with multiple serious offences and an undocumented status to remain free.
This case underscores tensions between immigration policy, public safety, and administrative oversight.
Critics argue that past releases and supervision orders may have allowed individuals with serious criminal histories to remain in the US, raising questions about enforcement priorities. Meanwhile, calls for stricter vetting and removal of known offenders grow louder.
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