US President Condemns Killing of Indian-Origin Hotel Manager in Dallas

US President Donald Trump has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, a 50-year-old hotel manager of Indian origin, in Dallas last week. The attack, reportedly carried out by Cuban undocumented immigrant Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, involved a machete and took place in front of Nagamallaiah’s wife and child, BBC reported.

Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “The time for being soft on these illegal immigrant criminals is OVER under my watch.” He added that the suspect will be “prosecuted to the fullest extent” and charged with first-degree murder.

Trump also criticised the Biden administration, noting that Cobos-Martinez had a prior criminal record, including alleged child abuse, but was released because Cuba refused to accept him back. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Cobos-Martinez had a final order of removal from the US and was released from a detention centre in January under supervision after Cuba declined his return.

Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, India, moved to the US in 2018. He worked at the Downtown Suites Motel in Dallas. The attack occurred on 10 September following a heated argument over a broken washing machine. The suspect is now in custody at Dallas County Jail.

Nagamallaiah’s funeral took place on 13 September in Flower Mound, Texas. A fundraiser launched for his family has raised over $321,000 to date, according to PTI.

The case has reignited debate over US immigration policies and the enforcement against undocumented migrants.