Trending Now - DHS Criticizes California Sanctuary County After Tragic Murder Case

WHO:

NY Post - Kembery Chirinos-Flores, a 24-year-old mother, was allegedly murdered by Franquin Inestroza-Martinez and Gerzon Jose Chirinos-Munguia, both Honduran nationals.

Fox News - Lauren Bis, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), criticized Santa Clara County for its actions.

Fox News - Dan Pistor, Chief of the Santa Clara Department of Public Safety, commented on the victim's life.

WHAT:

Fox News - DHS criticized Santa Clara County for not honoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests for the two suspects.

Fox News - Inestroza-Martinez and Chirinos-Munguia were arrested for the alleged murder of Kembery Chirinos-Flores.

Fox News - Chirinos-Munguia had a history of arrests, including battery and domestic battery.

Fox News - Inestroza-Martinez had an outstanding arrest warrant from New Jersey for a homicide committed in March 2025.

Fox News - DHS stated that Inestroza-Martinez was deported from the U.S. in 2013 and 2018, and illegally re-entered the country.

WHERE:

NY Post - The incident occurred in Santa Clara County, California.

Fox News - Inestroza-Martinez had an outstanding warrant from New Jersey.

WHEN:

Fox News - Kembery Chirinos-Flores was allegedly murdered in early January 2026.

Fox News - Chirinos-Munguia was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019.

WHY:

Fox News - DHS criticized the California Value Act (CVA), a "sanctuary" law, for limiting cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agents.

Fox News - The CVA was signed into law in 2017 in response to immigration efforts by President Trump.

HOW:

Fox News - The DHS stated that Santa Clara County refused to honor ICE’s arrest detainer and did not notify ICE when the suspects were released from jail.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 13:24 UTC)

In a tragic incident in Santa Clara County, California, 24-year-old Kembery Chirinos-Flores was allegedly murdered by two Honduran nationals, Franquin Inestroza-Martinez and Gerzon Jose Chirinos-Munguia, who were arrested in connection with the crime. The Department of Homeland Security criticized the county for failing to honor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests for the suspects, highlighting that Inestroza-Martinez had a history of deportations and an outstanding homicide warrant from New Jersey. Additionally, DHS pointed to the California Value Act, a sanctuary law that limits cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agents, as a contributing factor to the situation.