As ICE ramps up deportations, Texas prosecutors say they're losing key witnesses in criminal cases [View all]

[marmar]

(Texas Tribune) In West Texas, a man was indicted in September for assaulting Manuel Chairez-Montes, fracturing the left side of his face. But before District Attorney Sarah Stogner could take the case to trial, Chairez-Montes, who was undocumented, was deported to Mexico.

Now, the case is in limbo.

Adan Yanez Porras was charged in Ward County with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, but Stogner said she can’t prosecute the case without the victim’s testimony. Stogner said he’s applying for a U-Visa, which allows crime victims who are noncitizens to stay in the country for up to four years.

....(snip)....

Stogner, who also represents Loving and Reeves counties, said the case is one of the ripple effects of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

“It makes it harder for me to convict dangerous felons when … witnesses are getting deported, victims are getting deported, and the defendant or the perpetrator themselves are getting deported,” she said. ....................(more)

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/22/texas-district-attorneys-deportation-witnesses-criminal-cases-immigrants/