An illegal alien awaiting deportation and member of the violent MS-13 street gang, who was previously detained and released by federal immigration authorities, assaulted a sheriff's deputy in Maryland last week.
According to Senator Chuck Grassley and Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who chair the respective Judiciary Committees in the Senate and House, the deputy was investigating a traffic accident when Jose Misael Reyes-Reyes assaulted him. Reyes-Reyes had no relation to the traffic accident and the attack was unprovoked.
According to Reyes-Reyes' history, he was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol, released, assaulted the deputy, and has been arrested again on a slew of new charges. Grassley and Goodlatte have written a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson demanding answers surrounding his illegal status and criminal history. From the letter:
We write to request case information on Jose Misael Reyes-Reyes, an illegal alien and MS-13 gang member who committed an unprovoked attack on Frederick County Deputy Sheriff Greg Morton on November 5, 2015. According to the Fredrick County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Morton was in his car investigating an unrelated traffic accident when Reyes-Reyes began hitting him in the face through the car window. Deputy Morton subdued Reyes-Reyes and arrested him, but Reyes-Reyes then began kicking Deputy Morton in an attempt to escape while handcuffed. Reyes-Reyes has been charged with multiple criminal counts, including second-degree assault on a police officer, two counts of second degree assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, obstructing and hindering, and disorderly intoxication.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Reyes-Reyes was in the country illegally. Reyes-Reyes was previously apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol but released. At the time of the attack on Deputy Morton, Reyes-Reyes was awaiting his removal hearing. The Sheriff’s Office records also confirm that Reyes-Reyes was a known MS-13 gang member.
This attack is yet another example of the utter lack of respect for the law and those who uphold it, and a terrible reminder that our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are now singled out as targets by criminals who seek to murder and maim those who wear the badge. While the unprovoked attack on a law enforcement officer is extremely disturbing, what is more disturbing is the fact that a known criminal alien gang member was involved in this alleged crime.
Johnson has until November 20 to provide answers about Reyes-Reyes' illegal entry and residency in the United States in addition to questions about his MS-13 activity.
Keep in mind MS-13 is one of the most violent gangs in the world and is described by the FBI as, ""perpetuating violence—from assaults to homicides, using firearms, machetes, or blunt objects—to intimidate rival gangs, law enforcement, and the general public. They often target middle and high school students for recruitment. And they form tenuous alliances...and sometimes vicious rivalries...with other criminal groups, depending on their needs at the time."
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