James Talarico, a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives running for U.S. Senate, is facing criticism after being absent during a final vote on legislation designed to automatically deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent felonies.
The bill, known as "Jocelyn's Law" in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Houston girl who was sexually assaulted and strangled in June 2024, failed to pass due to insufficient bipartisan support. The measure would have added a Texas constitutional amendment targeting violent offenders present in the country illegally.
Before missing the final vote, Talarico had voted against two amendments that would have created exemptions for immigrants with humanitarian parole, pending green card applications, Violence Against Women Act protections, Temporary Protected Status, and other immigration categories.
What the Left Is Saying
Talarico's campaign pushed back against the criticism, with spokesperson JT Ennis describing him as "a law and order Democrat who supports prosecuting violent felons."
"James has a proven track record voting for tighter bail laws for violent offenders and voting repeatedly to increase funding for Texas police," Ennis told Fox News Digital.
Ennis also criticized Talarico's political opponents, saying that "while John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and the billionaires who prop them up lie about James' record, he will continue standing up against both political parties to fix this broken, corrupt political system."
Talarico has denied being supportive of defund-the-police efforts, calling such accusations a "flat-out lie." During his time in the Texas House, he has voted on various criminal justice measures.
What the Right Is Saying
Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, criticized Talarico's absence and positions.
"It is disgusting that James Talarico is letting his anti-American agenda show by siding with a violent illegal over a Texas family," Kraft said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Kraft argued that Talarico's opposition to the bill "has once again proven his priority is criminals, not the safety of Texans."
The criticism comes as Talarico seeks statewide office in one of the states most affected by immigration-related crime debates. Jocelyn Nungaray was allegedly killed by two Venezuelan nationals who had been encountered by Border Patrol near El Paso and released into the country under prior administration policies.
What the Numbers Show
Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was abducted, sexually assaulted, and strangled in Houston in June 2024. Her body was found in a creek drainage area.
Prosecutors have charged Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, both Venezuelan nationals present in the country illegally, with capital murder in her death.
The two men had been encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso in early 2024 before being released on their own recognizance into the United States under policies in place at that time.
According to data compiled by the House Homeland Security Committee during the previous administration, there were more than 10.8 million border encounters and roughly two million "gotaways" recorded nationwide.
Talarico has also faced scrutiny for a 2019 statement referring to "undocumented Americans" as his constituents, and for guidance he shared through United We Dream, an immigrant advocacy group, instructing people not to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
The Bottom Line
Jocelyn's Law failed in the Texas Legislature due to lack of bipartisan support. Its sponsors had sought to add a constitutional amendment that would deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent felonies.
Talarico's absence during the final vote has become a campaign issue as he challenges for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas. His opponents point to his voting record on bail measures and immigration-related legislation as evidence of positions out of step with many Texas voters.
His campaign maintains that Talarico supports prosecuting violent criminals and increasing police funding, arguing his critics are distorting his record. The case remains under legal proceedings, with prosecutors pursuing capital murder charges against the accused.