(CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) A Honduran man who authorities say was in the United States illegally and had been deported twice is facing attempted murder and a string of other charges after a brutal stabbing on a Charlotte light rail train that has reignited debate over immigration enforcement and public safety.
Police said 33-year-old Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia attacked a male passenger with a knife on the Blue Line near North Brevard Street and East 22nd Street, leaving the victim seriously hurt on the floor of the train as shocked riders tried to get away.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers arrested Solorzano-Garcia a short time later and the victim was taken to a hospital, where officials say he is in stable condition after suffering serious injuries.
DHS statements and immigration history
The Department of Homeland Security said the case is especially troubling because Solorzano-Garcia has a long history of immigration violations and violent crime. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that he was first removed from the country on March 9, 2018, after an immigration judge issued a final order of removal during President Trump’s first term.
According to McLaughlin:
- He was deported again in 2021 after agents caught him crossing the border illegally.
- At some point after that, DHS says, he slipped back into the country a third time at an unknown place and date, joining the ranks of repeat border crossers who present one of the toughest tests for immigration enforcement.
The agency has not released specifics on where or when he re-entered, saying only that he entered “at an unknown date and location.”
Criminal charges and past record
Court records reviewed by local media show that Solorzano-Garcia now faces the following charges:
- Attempted first-degree murder
- Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Breaking and entering a motor vehicle
- Being intoxicated and disruptive
Police and federal notes indicate a previous record that includes:
- Arrests for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, destroying evidence, resisting arrest, and using a fake ID
- Past convictions for robbery and illegal re-entry
Table: Charge summary
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Major charge | Attempted first-degree murder |
| Additional criminal counts | Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury; carrying a concealed weapon; breaking and entering a motor vehicle; being intoxicated and disruptive |
| Prior record highlights | Arrests for aggravated battery (deadly weapon), destroying evidence, resisting arrest, fake ID; convictions for robbery and illegal re-entry |
Reaction and political debate
For riders on the Charlotte light rail system, the latest attack comes less than a year after another high-profile stabbing on the same Blue Line. In July 2025, 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed; prosecutors say she was killed by Decarlos Brown Jr., who is charged with first-degree murder and faces separate federal indictments.
These back-to-back cases have sparked sharp criticism from some Republican officials who argue that weak immigration policies and failures to honor federal detention requests are putting residents at risk.
Notable public comments:
- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem used social media to condemn the Charlotte attack and defend tougher enforcement. She criticized local authorities for not consistently holding people for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite detainers issued by federal agents.
- Noem wrote that Solorzano-Garcia’s history was proof of a wider problem and urged local leaders to stop releasing people with violent records who are in the country unlawfully.
- She declared: “Under President Trump, ICE is being unleashed to ensure public safety for all Americans,” and vowed that, if returned to the White House, Trump would move quickly to remove criminal noncitizens.
- Noem framed the Charlotte stabbing as part of a broader failure she blames on the Biden administration, even though Solorzano-Garcia’s first removal occurred during the Trump term.
- Tom Homan, former ICE acting director and border security commentator, said in a Fox News interview that Solorzano-Garcia’s case exemplifies perceived holes in the system. He argues repeat border crossers who have been deported multiple times should face swift arrest and removal, warning some go on to commit serious crimes inside the country.
Legal context and enforcement procedures
Immigration advocates and legal experts emphasize the complexity of immigration law and the political nature of these cases. They note:
- The public often hears about the worst crimes committed by undocumented people, while many thousands of others work, raise families and stay out of trouble.
- This imbalance can fuel fear and lead to broad-brush judgments.
VisaVerge.com reports that people who illegally re-enter after prior removals can face especially stiff federal penalties. Under United States law:
- Prosecutors may charge illegal re-entry after removal as a felony.
- Sentencing guidelines can increase sharply when someone has prior convictions for violent or drug-related crimes.
DHS said it will work with local authorities to review the case and determine whether federal charges, including illegal re-entry after removal, will be filed. Under current procedures explained on the DHS immigration enforcement page, ICE can lodge detainers asking local jails to hold certain inmates for up to 48 hours so federal officers can take custody for immigration proceedings.
Local response and public safety concerns
In Charlotte, transit riders expressed fear and frustration after learning the accused had been expelled from the country more than once. Reactions included:
- Some riders saying they now feel less safe using public transport.
- Others questioning why someone with a long record was free on the streets.
City officials have promised to review security on trains and at stations but have not announced specific policy changes.
For now, Solorzano-Garcia remains in the Mecklenburg County jail without bond, and a court appearance is scheduled for Monday, when prosecutors are expected to outline more details about the attack and his past record.
The case will likely fuel more national debate over how to deal with people who return to the country after being deported twice or more, and whether local police should play a larger role in helping federal agents enforce immigration law.
For many residents, answers cannot come.
Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia, 33, was arrested after a stabbing on a Charlotte light rail train that left a passenger seriously injured. DHS says he was deported in 2018 and 2021 and later re-entered the U.S. He faces attempted first-degree murder and several other charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and illegal re-entry. Held without bond, the case has renewed debate over immigration enforcement, ICE detainers, and public transit safety as prosecutors consider federal charges.
