As the aftermath of Hurricane Helene leaves devastation across the Southeast, eight illegal immigrants have been arrested for looting in eastern Tennessee. These men took advantage of the chaos and despair brought on by the disaster, preying on struggling American citizens. Their actions serve as a stark reminder of the risks posed by weak border enforcement, and why the U.S. must secure its borders to prevent criminals from entering the country.
The men arrested over the weekend were caught looting both occupied and unoccupied homes. Five of them face aggravated burglary charges, having broken into homes where flood survivors were still residing. The suspects, Albin Nahun Vega-Rapalo, David Bairon Rapalo-Rapalo, Kevin Noe Martinez-Lopez, Marvin Hernandez-Martinez, and Dayln Gabriel Guillen Guillen, are now facing trial.
Three others—Jesus Leodan Garcia-Peneda, Josue Berardo Ortis-Valdez, and Ersy Leonel Ortis-Valdez—were charged with burglary after looting vacant homes that had been left abandoned due to floodwaters. The predatory behavior of these criminals highlights the failure of the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies, which have allowed such individuals to slip through the cracks.
As the floodwaters rise, so do concerns over national security and the safety of American citizens. Critics, including former Trump advisor Stephen Miller, argue that the administration has prioritized bringing in migrants over protecting the lives and property of Americans. Miller stated, “Kamala [Harris] and [Joe] Biden don’t have the resources to rescue Americans, but they do have the resources to import migrants to loot them.”
