Houston/New York: US President Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager brutally beheaded in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face first-degree murder charges.
Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a violent criminal history.
In his first remarks on the case, Trump blamed former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, calling the attacker an “illegal alien” who should have been deported. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated: “I am aware of the terrible reports regarding the murder of Chandra Nagamallaiah, a well-respected person in Dallas, Texas, who was brutally beheaded, in front of his wife and son, by an illegal alien from Cuba who should have never been in our country.”
He added that Cobos-Martinez, who is in custody, “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law” and will face first-degree murder charges. Trump noted the accused had prior arrests for serious crimes, including child sexual abuse, grand theft auto, and false imprisonment, but was released under Biden after Cuba refused to accept him.
“Rest assured, the time for being soft on these illegal immigrant criminals is over under my watch! Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Border Czar Tom Homan, and many others in my Administration are doing an incredible job in making America safe again,” Trump said.
Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, was attacked with a machete at the motel where he lived and worked. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned the killing, calling it “horrifying” and offering condolences to the family, emphasizing that the perpetrator must face full legal consequences.
Cobos-Martinez had been released from ICE custody earlier this year after Cuba refused his deportation. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said the case highlights broader immigration enforcement challenges, noting that Trump-era policies had focused on deporting criminal aliens to third countries.
The Indian Consulate in Houston is closely monitoring the case and providing support. Consul General DC Manjunath confirmed the consulate is in contact with the family and local authorities.
The Indian-American community expressed shock and grief. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America condemned the killing as part of a troubling national trend, calling for thorough investigations and a national inquiry into America’s social breakdown. Indiaspora described the crime as “deeply saddening and horrifying,” while Suhag Shukla of the Hindu American Foundation urged patience and compassion in the face of violence.
Dallas Police confirmed the killing was captured on motel CCTV. Cobos-Martinez remains jailed without bond pending trial. Nagamallaiah’s funeral was held on September 13 in Flower Mound, Texas. A fundraiser for his family has raised over USD 321,326, and the case has reignited debate over US immigration enforcement challenges when deportation is refused by other countries.
