The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office has reported the arrest of an illegal immigrant on charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence, and being a fugitive from justice.
The individual, identified as Maberic Javier Reyes, a 20-year-old Hispanic male, was taken into custody on January 14. He was booked by the Southaven Police Department in DeSoto County without bond set for any charge. According to available records from the DeSoto County public database, further details about the incident or his release have not been disclosed. Additional reports indicate that Reyes has an immigration detainer hold.
According to the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office, in Fiscal Year 2005, the Mississippi Department of Corrections housed 70 immigrant inmates eligible for partial federal reimbursement under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. The net state cost for these incarcerations was approximately $237,360 after reimbursements, excluding medical costs and local incarcerations. The report highlighted that only two counties participated in this program and noted issues with underreporting due to a lack of immigration status tracking.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that in 2025, 70% of all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests involved illegal aliens who were either convicted or charged with crimes in the United States. These arrests included serious offenses such as murder, rape, and armed robbery. The department emphasized its focus on removing criminal illegal aliens from communities.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office was established following the county’s organization on February 9, 1836. It serves as the chief law enforcement agency for DeSoto County, Mississippi. The office manages an Adult Detention Facility staffed by 90 personnel, including 80 security staff members. Its mission is to ensure public safety through criminal investigations and community service while aiming to eradicate criminal activity within a county named after explorer Hernando de Soto.
