{"id":16719,"date":"2026-07-25T11:24:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T06:24:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16719"},"modified":"2026-07-25T11:24:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T06:24:49","slug":"illegal-mexican-immigrant-who-killed-nashville-restaurant-owner-to-face-ice-deportation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16719","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Mexican immigrant who killed Nashville restaurant owner to face ICE deportation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft wp-block-nypost-editor-partner-article-links\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are seeking custody of a Mexican citizen who authorities say entered the United States illegally through Texas in 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/08\/us-news\/biden-was-warned-his-soft-on-immigration-proposals-would-cause-chaos-but-he-ignored-it-damning-memo-reveals\/\">under the Biden administration<\/a> and killed a\u00a0Nashville\u00a0restaurant owner.<\/p>\n<p>After pleading guilty and being sentenced Tuesday to decades behind bars, ICE lodged an\u00a0immigration detainer\u00a0against Ulises Raigoza-Martinez, requesting that Tennessee officials notify the agency before his release, so federal authorities can take him into custody for removal proceedings, according to the\u00a0Department of Homeland Security\u00a0(DHS).<\/p>\n<p>The case stems from a June 19, 2024, encounter in the parking lot of the Nashville restaurant Smokin\u2019 Thighs, where investigators claim Raigoza-Martinez stopped to steal tools from owner Matt Carney\u2019s pickup truck.<\/p>\n<p>When Carney, 42, walked outside to confront the thief, Raigoza-Martinez sped away, striking the restaurateur with his vehicle,\u00a0authorities said.<\/p>\n<p>Carney landed on the hood before being thrown to the pavement when Raigoza-Martinez turned the vehicle.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40087043\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.8;display:block\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40087043\" width=\"472\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg\" alt=\"Mugshot of Ulises Raigoza-Martinez\" class=\"wp-image-40087043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 652w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=240,300&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 240w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=480,600&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 480w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=471,589&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 471w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=397,496&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 397w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=515,644&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 515w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=393,491&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 393w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=226,282&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 226w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=165,206&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 165w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=57,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 57w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=32,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 32w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=56,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 56w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=43,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 43w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=160,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=231,289&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=322,403&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=300,375&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=353,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 353w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=48,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 48w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=64,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 64w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=46,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 46w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=125,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 125w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/500-death-nashville-restaurant-owner-135439402.jpg?resize=40,50&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 40w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\"\/><figcaption>Illegal immigrant Ulises Raigoza-Martinez was sentenced to 20 years for killing Nashville restaurateur Matt Carney. <span class=\"credit\">DHS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Carney suffered critical injuries and died at a Nashville hospital on July 4, 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Police arrested Raigoza-Martinez in South Nashville on July 18, 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Two years later, on July 22, 2026, he pleaded guilty to murder, theft over $10,000, tampering with evidence and theft over $2,500, before being sentenced to 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40087044\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7890625;display:block\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40087044\" width=\"466\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?w=808\" alt=\"Matt Carney, owner of Smokin' Thighs, smiling while wearing sunglasses and a plaid shirt on a boat.\" class=\"wp-image-40087044\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1068w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=237,300&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 237w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=768,974&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=808,1024&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 808w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=473,600&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 473w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=465,589&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 465w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=391,496&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 391w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=508,644&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 508w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=387,491&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 387w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=222,282&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 222w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=162,206&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 162w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=56,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 56w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=32,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 32w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=55,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 55w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=43,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 43w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=158,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 158w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=231,293&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=322,408&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=300,380&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=348,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 348w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=47,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 47w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=63,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 63w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=46,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 46w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=123,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 123w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/2024-authorities-say-struck-vehicle-135439403.jpg?resize=39,50&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 39w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\"\/><figcaption>Matt Carney died on July 4, 2024, after police say he was struck by Raigoza-Martinez\u2019s vehicle. <span class=\"credit\">DHS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said Raigoza-Martinez \u201cshould NEVER have been in our country to commit this heinous murder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will work with our state and local partners in Tennessee to ensure that he is handed over to ICE custody once his sentence is complete, so that we can remove him from our country,\u201d Bis said.<\/p>\n<p>If Tennessee officials honor the\u00a0ICE detainer, federal immigration authorities will take custody of Raigoza-Martinez after he completes his prison sentence so he can be placed into removal proceedings and deported.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are seeking custody of a Mexican citizen who authorities say entered the United States illegally through Texas in 2021 under the Biden administration and killed a\u00a0Nashville\u00a0restaurant owner. After pleading guilty and being sentenced Tuesday to decades behind bars, ICE lodged an\u00a0immigration detainer\u00a0against Ulises Raigoza-Martinez, requesting that Tennessee officials notify&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/135439401.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16719\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}