After a tragic incident on Grapevine Lake took the life of 18-year-old Ava Moore, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s comments have sparked controversy among local civil rights groups. Moore was kayaking on Sunday, when she was struck by a jet ski driven by Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, who then fled the scene, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. Her passenger remained to assist in the investigation, while Gonzalez, along with Maikel Coello Perozo, was arrested two days later. Abbott’s subsequent statement on social media about giving the suspects—unauthorized immigrants—the death penalty has been called out by the Houston-based civil rights organization FIEL.
Following the announcement that Gonzalez and Perozo were living in the U.S. without proper authorization, Abbott’s stark post on social media stating, "Welcome to Texas. Here's Your Death Penalty," has been criticized by FIEL as inciting potential vigilante actions. In a statement obtained by KHOU, Cesar Espinosa, FIEL’s executive director, called the governor's comment "irresponsible," voicing concerns about the governor's approach to the incident, especially when a manslaughter charge does not necessarily equate to a death penalty eligibility.
However, in the wake of the tragedy, a response from the governor's office reiterated its stance. According to Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for the governor, "The victim's family deserves swift justice, and the criminal illegal immigrants should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," as stated in a written piece, as stated by Houston Chronicle. This echoes the tough-on-crime narrative Abbott’s administration has promoted, especially in conversations surrounding undocumented immigrants.
Espinosa, reiterating the sentiment in a statement to the KHOU, expressed sympathy for the Moore family but emphasized the importance of not conflating immigration status with criminality. “We want to remind our fellow Texans are hard working people who live their lives down the straight and narrow path. We must not call victim to the propaganda and make generalizations about immigrants. Words matter and far too often Abbott uses words in a careless manner,” Espinosa said. His words, while acknowledging the need for justice, plead for a more measured dialogue, one that doesn't blanket an already stigmatized group with further scorn.
Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that both suspects came into the country without authorization between 2023 and 2024. Respecting the legal process, Texas Game Warden Captain Joseph Quintero said during a May 28 conference, as told to reporters, “all of that is left to the courts to run through the system.” Meanwhile, Makayla Moore, a victim service advocate, shared an optimistic though somber note from the grieving family: "Out of this tragedy, God will make good and that only can be accomplished through forgiveness," she said on behalf of the family, as per Hosuton Chronicle.
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