Two lawmakers decry ‘lack of border security’ following death of Cornelia woman

State Senate Committee on Public Safety Chairman, Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega) (pictured) Thursday raised the issue of border security in the wake of the murder of Minelys Zoe Rodriguez-Ramirez, whose body was recovered last week after her disappearance from Cornelia. They noted that the man accused of killing her is in this country illegally.

“Mimi was a legal immigrant from Puerto Rico who followed every step of the process to live and work in the United States. She secured employment with Mt. Vernon Hills, Inc. and tirelessly supported her daughter, mother and fiancé. She did everything right, yet her life was cut short because of our federal government’s repeated failure to protect its own citizens.

The suspected murderer, Angel DeJesus Rivera-Sanches, an illegal immigrant who had no right to be here, was apprehended in Atlanta as he tried to flee back to Mexico. He has been charged with kidnapping in connection to her disappearance.”

Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch echoed Sen. Albers’ sentiments, calling for immediate and stronger federal action on border control to prevent “such tragedies” in the future.

“The murder of Minelys Zoe Rodriguez-Ramirez, so close to my district, is a tragedy that should prompt us all to question how much longer we will put our own people at risk due to Washington’s failure to secure our borders…Enough is enough.”