"time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER"
US President Donald Trump has condemned the brutal beheading of Indian-origin motel manager Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, allegedly by a Cuban illegal immigrant in Dallas, Texas.
Chandra was attacked with a machete by his colleague, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, during an argument over a broken washing machine.
The incident took place on September 10 at the Downtown Suites Motel in Dallas, where Chandra worked as manager.
Police said Cobos-Martinez repeatedly struck him with an edged weapon before kicking his severed head “around like a soccer ball”, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The accused allegedly went through the victim’s pockets, took his phone and key card, and continued the attack until the victim was beheaded.
Disturbing videos of the incident also showed him chasing Chandra through the motel corridor as his family tried to intervene.
Cobos-Martinez has been charged with capital murder and is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail. Trump said he “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent” of the law and will be “charged with murder in the first degree”.
He also criticised President Joe Biden’s administration, saying the accused had previously been arrested for several crimes, including alleged child abuse, but was “released back into society because Cuba declined to accept his return”.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Cobos-Martinez is an undocumented immigrant with a final order of removal.
He was released from detention in January after Cuba refused repatriation, citing his criminal history.
Trump condemned the attack and on his Truth Social platform, he said:
“The time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch.”
Originally from Bengaluru, Karnataka, Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah moved to the United States in 2018.
Friends knew him as “Bob”.
He managed the motel in Dallas for the past five years and was described as hardworking and dedicated.
Chandra is survived by his wife, Nisha, and 18-year-old son, Gaurav, who recently graduated high school and is preparing to begin college.
According to a fundraiser, Gaurav “dreams of studying hospitality management – inspired by his father’s work”.
His funeral was held on September 13 in Flower Mound, Texas, attended by family and friends.
Court documents revealed the attack began when Chandra told Cobos-Martinez not to use a broken washing machine.
A witness said the manager asked another staff member to translate his instructions rather than speaking directly to Cobos-Martinez, which reportedly triggered the violent response.
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