Boy, 11, Takes His Own Life Over ICE Threats from Bullies

A heartbreaking tragedy struck Texas when 11-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza took her own life on February 8, leaving her family in deep sorrow. Her mother revealed that Jocelynn faced relentless bullying from classmates who mocked her and accused her family of being in the U.S. illegally.

Her tragic death is now under investigation, bringing attention to the cruel taunts she suffered at school. Her grieving mother hopes that Jocelynn’s story will raise awareness about the serious impact of bullying and the need for urgent change.

An unimaginable loss has shaken a Texas family after Jocelynn’s passing, which allegedly followed persistent bullying at school. Her devastated mother, Marbella Carranza, said that Jocelynn’s classmates targeted her over her family’s immigration status, making her feel hopeless.

Reports indicate that Jocelynn endured constant bullying at Gainesville Intermediate School. According to her mother, classmates not only mocked their immigration status but also threatened to call immigration authorities.

“They said they were going to call immigration to take her parents away, leaving her all alone,” Carranza told a local news station. However, she did not confirm her family’s immigration status.

“It seems the school was aware of everything, but they never told me what was happening with my daughter,” Carranza said. “It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.”

In response, the Gainesville Independent School District did not confirm whether they were aware of the bullying. However, they emphasized their protocol for handling such issues, stating, “Whenever we receive a report of bullying, we respond swiftly to ensure all students are safe physically and emotionally.”

The district also highlighted their efforts to address bullying, adding, “While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts.”

“I want justice because it’s not fair—the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter,” Carranza said.

Jocelynn was found unresponsive on February 3 at her family’s home in Gainesville. Despite efforts to save her, she passed away five days later.

She was laid to rest on Wednesday as family and friends mourned the devastating loss of a young life taken too soon. The sound of grief filled the air as a mariachi band played a sorrowful tune from the church balcony. In the same church where Jocelynn had been baptized 11 years earlier, her casket lay covered in a white cloth, with a crucifix resting on top.

“She didn’t know how to understand the things that happen in the world,” said Gelasio Garcia, a deacon at the church, as he spoke during the service.