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In July 2022, 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton, a kind young woman with autism, was brutally raped and strangled in her Aberdeen, Maryland home. The perpetrator, Walter Javier Martinez—an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and known MS-13 gang member—had been allowed into the country despite his dangerous background. He was just 16 at the time, yet his gang ties and prior arrests were overlooked by lax border policies that prioritized release over safety.Kayla's final moments were captured in a heartbreaking voicemail to her boyfriend, where her cries for help were drowned out by the attack. This preventable tragedy exposed how open borders enable violent criminals to prey on innocent Americans. Her grieving mother has fought tirelessly for accountability, testifying before Congress about the failures that let this monster walk free among us.The passage of the Kayla Hamilton Act in late 2025 marks a vital step toward justice. By requiring stricter detention and screening for unaccompanied minors with criminal connections, it aims to prevent future horrors. Kayla's memory demands secure borders and policies that put American lives first—no more excuses, no more victims.