CHARLOTTE, NC - Operation Charlotte's Web, executed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) included the arrest of a Guatemalan national who was in the United States illegally and who allegedly killed a 15-year-old girl in a hit-and-run in Charlotte.
On January 14, ICE announced the arrest of Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente, who allegedly killed 15-year-old Amber Paris after running a stop sign while speeding and striking her with his vehicle, according to a press release from ICE.
On November 24, 2025, Xocop-Vicente was speeding through a residential neighborhood in Charlotte when he ran a stop sign and struck the 15-year-old with his car. He then immediately fled the scene on foot, ICE stated. The young girl 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," he added.
Xocop-Vincente was reportedly arrested by local law enforcement the next day and charged with driving without a license, reckless driving, and felony hit-and-run. However, the soft-on-crime policies and sanctuary city policies of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and other politicians allowed him to walk free before ICE could file an immigration detainer, the press release stated.
Local authorities also dismissed his driving without a license charge on December 2, 2025, while Paris was still fighting for her life. This was also allegedly the second time Mayor Lyles' Charlotte has allowed Xocop-Vincente 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 he had a criminal record that included a previous arrest for assault on a female.
Nearly 1,400 ICE detainers across North Carolina have not been honored, according to ICE, thereby allowing criminal illegal immigrants to be released into North Carolina's neighborhoods. Despite the city's refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement, ICE Fugitive Operations successfully tracked down and arrested Xocop-Vincente on January 12, 2026, during a targeted enforcement operation.
He is currently in ICE custody and is pending removal proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Charlotte's Web on November 15, 2025, surging law enforcement resources to Charlotte to find and arrest criminal illegal immigrants allegedly hiding under the city's sanctuary policies.
During Operation Charlotte's Web, DHS law enforcement has arrested more than 1,300 illegal immigrants with criminal histories.
On January 14, ICE announced the arrest of Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente, who allegedly killed 15-year-old Amber Paris after running a stop sign while speeding and striking her with his vehicle, according to a press release from ICE.
On November 24, 2025, Xocop-Vicente was speeding through a residential neighborhood in Charlotte when he ran a stop sign and struck the 15-year-old with his car. He then immediately fled the scene on foot, ICE stated. The young girl 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," he added.
Xocop-Vincente was reportedly arrested by local law enforcement the next day and charged with driving without a license, reckless driving, and felony hit-and-run. However, the soft-on-crime policies and sanctuary city policies of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and other politicians allowed him to walk free before ICE could file an immigration detainer, the press release stated.
Local authorities also dismissed his driving without a license charge on December 2, 2025, while Paris was still fighting for her life. This was also allegedly the second time Mayor Lyles' Charlotte has allowed Xocop-Vincente 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 he had a criminal record that included a previous arrest for assault on a female.
Nearly 1,400 ICE detainers across North Carolina have not been honored, according to ICE, thereby allowing criminal illegal immigrants to be released into North Carolina's neighborhoods. Despite the city's refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement, ICE Fugitive Operations successfully tracked down and arrested Xocop-Vincente on January 12, 2026, during a targeted enforcement operation.
He is currently in ICE custody and is pending removal proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Charlotte's Web on November 15, 2025, surging law enforcement resources to Charlotte to find and arrest criminal illegal immigrants allegedly hiding under the city's sanctuary policies.
During Operation Charlotte's Web, DHS law enforcement has arrested more than 1,300 illegal immigrants with criminal histories.
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