Federal immigration authorities have issued a formal request to North Carolina leadership following the arrest of a man accused of a brutal stabbing in Charlotte. The case has brought renewed attention to the state's "sanctuary" policies and their impact on local public safety.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Monday that it has filed an official detainer request for Jamie Iram Gamez Cadena, a Mexican national currently in custody for the alleged attempted first-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend.
According to police reports, Gamez Cadena was arrested on February 1, 2026, after he attacked the victim and stabbed her multiple times. While the suspect initially entered the country legally on a B-2 tourist visa, federal records indicate he remained in the U.S. past his authorized stay, making his current presence illegal.
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The request stems from ICE’s concern that local protocols might lead to Gamez Cadena’s release before federal agents can take him into custody. An immigration detainer is a formal notice asking local jails to notify ICE before a non-citizen is released and to hold that individual for a brief period so they can be transferred to federal agents.
Currently, several jurisdictions in North Carolina follow policies that limit cooperation with these requests, with local officials often arguing that such partnerships can damage the relationship between police and immigrant communities.
“Sanctuary politicians repeatedly place dangerous MONSTERS like this above the safety of American citizens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We are calling on North Carolina politicians to commit to not releasing this attempted murderer from jail back into American communities. Unfortunately, the state of North Carolina has a history of refusing to cooperate with ICE and releasing criminals back onto our streets to create more victims.”
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As the legal proceedings against Gamez Cadena move forward in the state court system, the Department of Homeland Security has pointed victims of similar crimes toward the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office for support. For now, federal agents and local residents alike are watching to see how the Charlotte facility handles the request as the suspect moves through the local judicial process.
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