Tom Homan: These politicians are ‘nuts’
In a significant development, ICE has detained Giovana Mercedes Moreno Ochompy, a former high school teacher from Illinois and undocumented immigrant, due to her alleged involvement in a triple homicide linked to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. Notably, Chicago law enforcement initially released Moreno Ochompy under the city’s sanctuary policies, failing to notify ICE about her release. Tom Homan, the former temporary head of ICE, sharply criticized these sanctuary policies, asserting that they obstruct federal agencies and jeopardize community safety.
In Connecticut, a woman facing charges related to a fatal drunk driving incident, which claimed the lives of an off-duty police officer and his girlfriend, has been identified as an undocumented immigrant. Federal authorities disclosed on Monday that ICE has called on state officials to prevent her release from custody, should that scenario arise.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to News Media that ICE issued a detainer for 27-year-old Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero, who was arrested following a tragic head-on collision on July 13. The crash resulted in the deaths of 38-year-old Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside and his 34-year-old partner, Brittany Islami.
“Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero, a criminal illegal alien, is facing charges for Vehicular Manslaughter and DUI,” a DHS representative reported to News Media. “On July 26, 2026, a detainer was filed against her by ICE.”
The Department escalated its warnings through a post on platform X, highlighting that “an illegal alien KILLED A COP in Danbury, Connecticut.” The agency urged Connecticut’s policymakers to work alongside ICE, stressing the importance of not allowing Ramirez to be released back into the public sphere due to sanctuary city policies.
Melissa Esperanza Ramirez-Romero was charged in connection with the July 13 crash that killed Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside and Brittany Islami. (Danbury Police Department)
Ramirez-Romero is charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive in the proper lane.
Danbury police said the crash happened around 2:45 a.m. July 13 on Sugar Hollow Road, where a Jeep Compass collided head-on with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Officers found Whiteside of Danbury and his passenger, Islami of New Milford, dead at the scene. Ramirez-Romero was taken to Danbury Hospital with serious injuries.
Bridgeport Police Officer Cooper Whiteside, who was killed in a July 13 crash in Danbury, Connecticut, shares a moment with his dog in an undated family photo. (Bridgeport Police Department / X)
Whiteside, a Danbury native who dreamed of becoming a police officer since childhood, graduated third in his police academy class and served with the Bridgeport Police Department for two years before he was killed.
The department mourned Whiteside’s death the day after the crash, saying he “served with selfless dedication” while extending its condolences to his family and loved ones.
“Rest easy, brother,” the department wrote. “We’ll take it from here.”
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is seen in an undated file photo. Federal authorities said ICE lodged a detainer against the Connecticut woman charged in a crash that killed an off-duty Bridgeport police officer and his longtime girlfriend. (Getty Images)
The DHS announcement came as Connecticut officials worked to correct false claims that Ramirez-Romero had been registered to vote.
Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas said in a video that Ramirez-Romero has never been registered to vote in Connecticut and that an innocent U.S. citizen with the same name was mistakenly identified online, leading to death threats against the unrelated woman.
“The defendant charged in connection with the July 13 crash that killed an off-duty Bridgeport police officer is not and has never been registered to vote in Connecticut,” Thomas said. “The voter registration record circulating online belongs to a different person entirely. Another Melissa Ramirez, a United States citizen who lives in New Britain, is legally registered to vote in Connecticut.”
Danbury police also warned that multiple people with similar names had been mistakenly identified online and urged the public to verify information before sharing it.
Ramirez-Romero remained held on a $500,000 bond pending her next court appearance.