January 20, 2026Charlotte, NC, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

Operation Charlotte’s Web: ICE arrests criminal illegal alien who killed a 15-year-old girl in a hit-and-run in Charlotte, North Carolina

Under Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyels’s sanctuary policies, this killer was let out on bond by local courts after committing this horrific crime

CHARLOTTE, NC – On January 14, ICE announced the arrest of Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala who killed Amber Paris, a 15-year-old girl and American citizen after running a stop sign while speeding and striking her with his vehicle.

On November 24, 2025, Xocop-Vicente was speeding through a residential neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina when he ran a stop sign and struck the 15-year-old with his vehicle. He then immediately fled the scene on foot.

Amber Paris was hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma. She passed away on December 18, 2025.

“My heart is with Amber’s family — and although nothing can ease the pain of losing a child, ICE will continue arresting and removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from North Carolina and across the country,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “Sanctuary policies have real consequences, and this is one of them. It’s heartbreaking, but this tragedy was preventable. ICE isn’t waiting for another tragedy to take action; we are out on the streets every day to arrest and remove public safety threats so this doesn’t happen to another child.”

Amber Paris, 15, was killed by criminal illegal alien Juli Cesar Xocop-Vicente.

While Xocop-Vicente was arrested by local law enforcement the next day and charged with driving without a license, reckless driving, and felony hit-and-run, the soft-on-crime and pro-illegal criminal illegal alien policies of Charlotte, North Carolina mayor Vi Lyles and other politicians allowed him walk free on bond before ICE could file an immigration detainer. Worse, local authorities then dismissed his driving without a license charge on December 2, 2025, while Paris was still fighting for her life.

This is also the second time that Mayor Lyles’ Charlotte has allowed this criminal illegal alien to walk free and avoid deportation after an arrest. He was convicted in 2023 for driving under the influence and driving without a license and had a criminal record that includes a previous arrest for assault on a female.

Criminal illegal alien Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente

Even though this criminal illegal alien had this arrest and a criminal conviction, the sanctuary policies of Charlotte, North Carolina under Mayor Lyles allowed this criminal illegal alien to remain in the United States and threaten American citizens. In fact, nearly 1,400 ICE detainers across North Carolina have not been honored—allowing criminal illegal aliens to be released into North Carolina’s neighborhoods. A 15-year-old girl paid for these sanctuary policies with her life.

Despite the city’s refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement, ICE Fugitive Operations successfully hunted down and arrested Xocop-Vicente on January 12, 2026, during a targeted enforcement operation. He is currently in ICE custody and is pending removal proceedings.

DHS launched Operation Charlotte’s Web on November 15, 2025, surging law enforcement resources to Charlotte, North Carolina to find and arrest criminal illegal aliens hiding under the city’s sanctuary policies. During Operation Charlotte’s Web, DHS Law Enforcement has arrested more than 1,300 illegal aliens

Below are some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens recently arrested by ICE during Operation Charlotte’s Web:

Armando Hernandez Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who was convicted for homicide and cruelty towards a child.

Diego Murillo-Perez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who was convicted multiple times for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor.

Jose Guadalupe Lopez Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was convicted of attempted first degree sexual offense with a child.

Ruben Barra-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was convicted of burglary, stealing a vehicle, robbery, and multiple felony illegal reentries into the United States after he was deported.

Kadlis Sivananthan, a criminal illegal alien from Sri Lanka and former member 18th street gang, who was convicted on multiple felony larceny charges, possessing narcotics, and was arrested for drug possession.

Updated: 01/20/2026