Dallas beheading: Indian man’s killer faces ICE deportation; Trump officials justify crackdown on ‘Illegal aliens’

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it lodged a detainer for Cobos-Martinez’s federal arrest and removal, calling him a “depraved criminal illegal alien from Cuba.”

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: September 13, 2025 12:29 PM IST

3 min read

Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, the Cuban national who has admitted to killing and beheading Chandra Nagamallaiah. (Photo: @MarioNawfal/ X)

A Cuban national, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, has admitted to killing and beheading an Indian-origin man, Chandra Nagamallaiah, at a Dallas motel, according to a court affidavit obtained by CNN. Cobos-Martinez is being held without bond on a capital murder by terror threat charge. CNN has not verified whether formal charges have been filed. Officials also confirmed that the suspect is in the US illegally.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it lodged a detainer for Cobos-Martinez’s federal arrest and removal, calling him a “depraved criminal illegal alien from Cuba.” Cobos-Martinez was previously held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Dallas but released in January after Cuba reportedly refused to accept him due to his criminal record. According to ICE, his criminal history includes “child sex abuse, grand theft of a motor vehicle, false imprisonment and carjacking.”

Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said “this is exactly why we are removing criminal illegal aliens to third countries.” She added, “President Trump and Secretary Noem are no longer allowing barbaric criminals to indefinitely remain in America.”

Police said Cobos-Martinez was cleaning a motel room with a witness when Nagamallaiah asked him not to use a broken washing machine. The witness told officers that Cobos-Martinez became angry because the victim used the witness to translate the request rather than speaking directly to him.

Surveillance footage shows Cobos-Martinez leaving the room, pulling out a machete, and attacking Nagamallaiah. The assault continued outside in front of the victim’s wife and son. Cobos-Martinez then allegedly placed the victim’s head in a dumpster.

Reactions from India

Indian-origin Congressman Ro Khanna called the murder “horrific” in a post on X, pointing out that the attacker had a violent criminal history but was still freed. “The murderer had multiple prior arrests… He should not have been free on American streets,” Khanna wrote.

The Indian Consulate in Houston expressed condolences over Nagamallaiah’s killing. “We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of the Dallas Police. We are following up on the matter closely,” it said in a post on X.

(With Inputs from CNN)

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