Carlos Carranza, 24, is accused of stalking 59-year-old Bambi Larson then stabbing and beating her to death inside her home

An illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal history has been charged with beating and stabbing a mother to death inside her home in California.

Carlos Eduardo Arevalo Carranza, 24, was arrested on Monday for the murder of 59-year-old Bambi Larson, who was found dead at her home in San Jose on February 28.

Police say Carranza, who has no address and is a known gang member, stalked Ms Larson through her neighborhood before breaking into her home and attacking her.

San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia also revealed Carranza's lengthy criminal history, which began in 2013 when he was arrested crossing the border illegally in Texas and deported back to Mexico.

That was followed by ten arrests and at least three convictions for offences ranging from drug possession to battery, false imprisonment and burglary.

When he was arrested for Larson's murder, Carranza was on probation for possession of methamphetamine, paraphernalia, false imprisonment and burglary.

Garcia also revealed that ICE had applied nine times for a detainer on Carranza, a move which allows suspects to be held longer than their prison term so their immigration status can be investigated by federal officials.

All nine requests had been ignored by county officials, ICE field director Erik Bonnar said, allowing Carranza to be freed so he could offend again.

ICE applied for a tenth detainer on Tuesday, following Carranza's latest arrest.

Bonnar told CBS San Francisco: 'How many more people have to be killed or injured before California lawmakers will open discussions to revise the state policy prohibiting local law enforcement agencies from working with ICE to apprehend dangerous criminal aliens?

Police say Carranza was arrested at least ten times before he killed Ms Larson (pictured), but San Jose county officials ignored requests from ICE to investigate his immigration status

'It’s unfortunate that our communities face dangerous consequences because of inflexible state laws that protect criminal aliens.

'These sanctuary policies have unintended, but very real, and often tragic consequences to public safety.'

San Jose Police Officers' Association echoed those remarks, saying: 'When it comes to policing, there's a distinct difference between a Dreamer who commits a victimless crime and a violent serial sexual predator with multiple offenses.

'Our society must recognize there's a difference between someone who is trying to make ends meet for their family, and a self-admitted gang member, a monster who brutally murders an innocent woman in her own home.'

Larson was found dead on February 28 by her son, who she worked with, after she failed to turn up to her job as a systems manager.

The son went over to her house around 1.45pm and discovered her body in her bedroom, suffering from multiple lacerations and blunt force trauma.

CCTV led them to a t-shirt outside the home which had both her blood and DNA from her attacker on it.

Carranza was arrested on unrelated drug charges on March 10 and a DNA sample was taken, which matched the DNA on the t-shirt.

He was rearrested the following day when police say they found Larson's cellphone and e-reader in his possession.