Open Borders America: Illegal Migrant with Multiple Prior Arrests Charged in Kristie Thibodeaux's Murder

In the early morning of June 30, Kristie Thibodeaux, a 43-year-old beloved French Quarter tour guide, was tragically shot and killed in her car on St. Peter Street in New Orleans. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident, believed to have occurred during an armed robbery, led to the arrest of three suspects: Kevin Nunez, illegal immigrant Joshua Bonifacio-Avila, and Jerben Albarec.

Thibodeaux, a tour guide for Crawl New Orleans in the French Quarter, was remembered for her vibrant personality and dedication to her job. “She brought so much joy and entertainment to tourists visiting the city,” said Brian Cain, owner of Crawl New Orleans. “She was the life of the party and the mother hen, all in one. She wanted people to see New Orleans in the best light.” Kristie is survived by her loving husband of ten years,

Kevin Nunez, identified as the shooter, had a history of violent crimes and was wearing a deactivated ankle monitor at the time of the murder, exposing serious flaws in the state’s electronic monitoring system. Nunez was wanted on an active arrest warrant for failing to comply with the terms of his release.

Joshua Bonifacio-Avila, a 19-year-old Honduran citizen, had been living in the United States illegally for years. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Bonifacio-Avila was deemed inadmissible by Border Patrol on May 11, 2019, but he remained in the country. He had been arrested multiple times, including in October 2023 and February 2024, on theft charges and other crimes in Jefferson Parish. His continued presence in the U.S. despite these arrests showcased the massive failures in immigration enforcement.

The lack of decisive action to deport Bonifacio-Avila after multiple arrests should be considered criminal. This failure allowed a dangerous illegal with a criminal record to stay in the country illegally and ultimately help kill an American citizen.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry voiced his frustration on Twitter, stating, “This man should never have been in Louisiana. Enough is enough. We need to close our borders and keep our communities safe!”

His comments prompted outrage from local left-wing illegal immigration advocacy groups, who criticized his stance as an unfair attack on these criminals. Edith Romero, a Honduran immigrant and organizer with Union Migrante, emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of crime and falsely noted that statistics show immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born citizens.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed her sorrow and anger over the murder of Kristie Thibodeaux, emphasizing the failures of the current system. “The ankle monitoring system is a complete waste of time and money if everyone involved is asleep at the wheel,” Murrill stated. She called for immediate changes, including NOLA juvenile court system reforms and holding the monitoring contractor accountable. Murrill also stressed the need for parental accountability, criticizing the lack of supervision for the suspects involved in this tragic crime.

The murder of Kristie Thibodeaux has once again highlighted the failures in both immigration enforcement and the electronic monitoring system, leading to widespread debate and calls for reform.