PORTER, TX – Texas law enforcement officials have apprehended and charged an undocumented immigrant following the tragic death of a 3-month-old infant on April 21.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect as 26-year-old Melvin Jesus Aquino Enriquez from Porter. Enriquez is facing charges of child injury and family assault.
On April 14, officers first responded to a call regarding a child injury at Enriquez’s residence located on Needham Road in Porter. The sheriff’s office promptly launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant’s injuries.
The infant was admitted to the hospital but tragically passed away from the injuries on April 24.
The MCSO Special Victims Unit is currently awaiting autopsy results to further understand the events leading to the untimely and heartbreaking death of the child. Once the results are available, officials will decide whether additional charges are necessary.
Enriquez is currently in custody with a bond set at $75,000. Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer on Enriquez due to his immigration status.
An ICE representative confirmed that Enriquez, a Mexican national who had been previously deported, entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location.
In March 2020, ICE officers encountered Enriquez at the Harris County Jail in Texas following his arrest for criminal trespass. An immigration detainer was placed with the jail at that time. In September 2020, an immigration judge ordered Enriquez to be deported to Mexico.
Enriquez was transported to Mexico two days later, but he illegally re-entered the U.S. at an unknown date and location. In April 2024, ICE officers encountered Enriquez at the Montgomery County Jail following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman and her infant child.
“Our office, alongside the community, mourns the tragic loss of this young life. We are committed to ensuring justice is served and are determined to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future,” the sheriff’s office said.