Quick Hit:

A previously deported illegal immigrant from Texas, Melvin Jesus Aquino Enriquez, has been charged in connection with the death of a three-month-old baby, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. The 26-year-old suspect is currently detained on a $75,000 bond, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also placing a detainer on him due to his immigration status.

Key Details:

• Melvin Jesus Aquino Enriquez, a 26-year-old previously deported illegal immigrant, has been charged with injury to a child and assault-family violence.
• The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's injuries after responding to reports of an injured child at Enriquez's residence.
• Enriquez is currently detained on a $75,000 bond, with ICE also placing a detainer on him due to his immigration status.

Diving Deeper:

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of an injured child at Enriquez's residence on the 25000 block of Needham Road in Porter on April 14. The MCSO Special Victims Unit promptly initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's injuries. The unit is currently awaiting autopsy results to further determine the circumstances leading to the untimely and devastating death of the child. Officials will then determine whether appropriate additional charges are warranted.

Enriquez, a "previously removed Mexican national," entered the United States illegally "on an unknown date and at an unknown location without inspection, admission or parole by an immigration officer," according to an ICE spokesperson. On March 4, 2020, immigration officers from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston encountered Aquino at the Harris County (Texas) Jail following his arrest for criminal trespass. An immigration detainer was placed with the jail, and on April 28, 2020, the Harris County Sheriff's Office transferred Aquino into ERO Houston custody. He was placed into immigration proceedings, and on September 15, 2020, an immigration judge ordered Aquino removed from the U.S. to Mexico.

However, Aquino illegally re-entered the U.S. at an unknown date and location. On April 15, 2024, ERO Houston immigration officers encountered Aquino at the Montgomery County (Texas) Jail following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman and her infant child. An immigration detainer was lodged with the jail. "Our office, alongside the community, mourns the tragic loss of this young life. We are committed to ensuring justice is served and are determined to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future," the sheriff's office said.