Livingston Today

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, issued a statement in response to the death of Ruby Garcia, a Grand Rapids woman allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant. The incident occurred when Ruby was found shot to death along U.S. 131 on March 22. The alleged perpetrator is reported to be Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who has a prior arrest record.

Sen. Theis expressed her deep sorrow over the tragic event, stating, "Ruby Garcia’s death breaks my heart, and I grieve with her family, friends and all who knew and loved her. Her loss is another tragic case of senseless violence, allegedly killed by a man with a criminal past who is in our country illegally."

Highlighting the importance of addressing the issue, Sen. Theis emphasized, "Ruby’s family would not be facing this sad reality had the system not failed to ensure an illegal immigrant with an arrest record couldn’t enter the country. For the sake of all Michiganders, law enforcement and the judicial system need to act to protect our citizens."

She further noted the concerning trend of crimes involving illegal immigrants, stating, "Crimes committed by illegal immigrants are regularly in the news and their frequency is growing across the United States. The federal government must close the border and vet those coming across."

In conclusion, Sen. Theis called for improved measures to safeguard the community, stating, "For the safety of our citizens, we simply must do better."

The senator also encouraged individuals to subscribe to her email list to stay informed about state government matters and provided her contact information for further engagement.