The Associated Press (AP) has come under fire for allegedly omitting crucial details in its coverage of the murder of a young girl in Texas. Critics accuse the AP of failing to inform readers that the two men arrested for the crime were illegal aliens who had recently entered the U.S. under President Joe Biden’s administration.

The suspects, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, both from Venezuela, were charged with capital murder for the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), both men entered the U.S. illegally and were apprehended near El Paso, Texas, before being released with notices to appear in court.

“Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location,” ICE stated. Martinez was detained by U.S. Border Patrol on March 14, while Pena was detained on May 28. Both were released on the same day they were apprehended.

The AP’s report on the murder did not mention the immigration status of the suspects or their release by the Biden administration. This omission has sparked significant criticism online, particularly from conservative figures and lawmakers.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) condemned the AP, stating, “AP is fundamentally dishonest. Entire story doesn’t mention that the murderers were ILLEGAL ALIENS. This is not journalism. And hundreds of smaller outlets will run this word-for-word.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) echoed these sentiments, calling the AP’s report “actual misinformation” and accusing the news agency of protecting President Biden. Political commentator Erick Erickson criticized the AP for aiding the Democratic agenda by omitting critical details about the suspects’ immigration status.

Fox News border correspondent Bill Melugin pointed out that the AP not only failed to mention the suspects were illegal aliens but also omitted their Venezuelan nationality, which police had publicly disclosed. “Not only does AP not mention that both suspects are illegal aliens who were both recently caught & released at border, they don’t even mention that they are from Venezuela,” Melugin said.

Investigators revealed that Jocelyn Nungaray was murdered by strangulation. Surveillance footage helped trace the suspects’ movements before and after the crime. Prosecutors stated that Martinez and Pena lured Nungaray under a bridge, where they assaulted and killed her before disposing of her body in the bayou.

The AP’s exclusion of the suspects’ immigration status has fueled a broader debate about media transparency and bias, especially regarding stories that intersect with contentious political issues like immigration. The incident underscores the importance of comprehensive reporting and the public’s right to be fully informed.