Temporary immigration protection status stripped from man accused of killing woman with mallet

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the termination of temporary protection status for Rolbert Joachin, a Haitian illegal immigrant accused of killing a store clerk with a mallet.

Joachin was arrested on April 3 by the Fort Myers Police Department and ICE after a multi-hour search was conducted following the killing of the store clerk.

During a news conference on Friday, ICE referenced Joachin’s immigration status, stating that he first entered the United States in 2022 near Key West, Florida.

He was arrested by border patrol and was placed in front of an immigration judge that same year. According to ICE, Joachin was granted a temporary protected status. 

On Thursday, the Trump administration stripped Joachin’s temporary protected status.

He appeared in court on Wednesday, where assistant state attorneys argued for pretrial detention, calling multiple pieces of evidence, including surveillance video and a confession show a strong case against him.

According to testimony, Joachin told investigators he went to the gas station to kill the victim, damaged her car to lure her outside, and wore similar clothing from a prior encounter so she would recognize him.

With his temporary immigration status stripped, Joachin faces deportation to Haiti. 

Joachin will remain held without bond.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the deadly attack at a Fort Myers gas station.

Trump posted on Truth Social, blaming the Biden administration for allowing Rolbert Joachin to stay in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security said Joachin was granted temporary protected status, which expired in 2024.

"We will ensure quick and severe justice is served in this case," Trump said.

The post included a video showing the attack on Nilufa Easmin.