Family of slain teen calls for illegal immigrant crackdown

Community activist Quanell X and relatives of a teen gunned down Saturday railed against America's immigration policy this morning after learning one of the suspected gunmen was in the country illegally.

"I believe it is time that the immigration policy in this country has more teeth," Quanell X said before the scheduled arraignments of Melvin Alvarado, 22, and Jonathan Lopez-Torres, 18.

Immigration officials have said Alvarado was deported in April 2008 and again in May 2009.

"This man should not have been allowed to sneak into the country over and over again and snuff out the life of this little girl," Quanell X said. "We do, obviously, have a border problem."

He was cheered on by family members of Shatavia Anderson who was killed on Saturday.

Leroy Anderson, the 14-year-old girl's father, nodded along with Quanell X outside of the courtroom, then broke down in tears while waiting for an elevator with other family members.

The girl's uncle, Joe Lambert, also called for tougher enforcement of immigration laws.

"I would like to see what they're doing in Arizona, done here," Lambert said.

Police have said Shatvia was a "target of opportunity" for an armed robbery as she walked home to her northside apartment after midnight.

Alvarado and Lopez-Torres, who is a lawful permanent resident from Honduras, have been charged with capital murder.

They are being held without bail in the Harris County Jail.

brian.rogers@chron.com

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