U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is actively pursuing custody of a Mexican national charged with illegally entering the United States via Texas in 2021 under President Biden’s administration. This individual, according to officials, is responsible for the fatal incident involving a Nashville restaurant owner.
Ulises Raigoza-Martinez has entered a guilty plea and received a lengthy prison sentence on Tuesday. Consequently, ICE has filed an immigration detainer, urging Tennessee authorities to alert them prior to his release. This coordination allows federal agents to assume custody for deportation procedures, as conveyed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This tragic case traces back to an encounter on June 19, 2024, in the parking lot of Smokin’ Thighs, a Nashville eatery. Investigators allege Raigoza-Martinez attempted to steal tools from owner Matt Carney’s truck.
During the confrontation, the 42-year-old Carney approached Raigoza-Martinez, who then fled the scene, hitting Carney with his vehicle, law enforcement authorities reported.
Carney was launched onto the vehicle’s hood, eventually falling to the ground when Raigoza-Martinez maneuvered the car, leading to the fatal outcome.
Carney suffered critical injuries and died at a Nashville hospital on July 4, 2024.
Police arrested Raigoza-Martinez in South Nashville on July 18, 2024.
Two years later, on July 22, 2026, he pleaded guilty to murder, theft over $10,000, tampering with evidence and theft over $2,500, before being sentenced to 20 years in prison.
DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said Raigoza-Martinez “should NEVER have been in our country to commit this heinous murder.”
“We will work with our state and local partners in Tennessee to ensure that he is handed over to ICE custody once his sentence is complete, so that we can remove him from our country,” Bis said.
If Tennessee officials honor the ICE detainer, federal immigration authorities will take custody of Raigoza-Martinez after he completes his prison sentence so he can be placed into removal proceedings and deported.