Secretary Kristi Noem of the Department of Homeland Security has criticized sanctuary city policies in the wake of a shooting incident involving an off-duty border patrol agent in New York City. She held city administration and its ‘sanctuary city guidelines’ accountable for the incident where a border protection agent was targeted in what has been described as a botched robbery. The official confirmed that the agent, a man of 42 years, is in a stable health condition and anticipated to make a full recovery.
According to the information provided by authorities, the agent, out of uniform at the time, was seated with a female companion in Riverside Park, located under the George Washington Bridge. The incident took place close to midnight when two individuals riding a moped drew near to the officer. One of the men walked towards the officer who immediately recognized the threat and pulled out his issue weapon.
A shootout ensued between both parties, leaving the officer injured in the arm and face. The attacker also sustained injuries before retreating on the moped. Later, law enforcement agencies flagged Miguel Mora, a 21-year-old undocumented immigrant with a long criminal history, as a person of interest linked to the incident.
Mora was located at a Bronx hospital with bullet-induced injuries in the leg and groin area. The discovery was a result of the New York City Police Department’s alert to local hospitals to look out for patients with gunshot injuries following the assault. Mora was subsequently apprehended on site.
Following Mora’s detention, authorities managed to trace and arrest his alleged partner in crime. Both men, being undocumented immigrants, are likely to face federal charges as per the official announcement. Authorities disclosed that Mora gained illicit entry into the country via Arizona.
In a revelation of Mora’s criminal past, it emerged that he previously faced charges related to assaulting a woman who was pregnant and for involvement in a stabbing incident. Besides, he was sought for a robbery committed at a pawn shop in Massachusetts where firearms were taken. The focus of the ongoing investigation lies in determining if the semi-automatic firearm utilized during the attack was one of the stolen items.
It has not been clarified whether Mora or his alleged comrade have obtained legal representation. Homeland Security Chief Noem attributed the shooting to ‘sanctuary city guidelines’, referencing numerous prior arrests and outstanding warrants associated with Mora. She issued a call for transformation on sanctuary city guidelines across the nation, suggesting a possible link between the shooting and these policies.
Echoing Noem’s remarks, President Donald Trump’s border security chief, Tom Homan, spoke out against sanctuary cities. Homan expressed, ‘Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals.’ Forming the state’s response, a representative of New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul extended the officer well-wishes for recovery, and stressed that the state fully cooperates with federal agencies in deporting violent criminals, a practice they intend to maintain.
At a separate press briefing, Mayor Eric Adams of New York refuted responsibility for what he characterized as a ‘revolving-door criminal justice policy’ that allowed Mora to remain at large. Mayor Adams signaled openness to an increased presence of federal law enforcement professionals in his jurisdiction if their aim is to target high-risk individuals.
Earlier, Adams mentioned that he had visited the wounded agent at the hospital. The officer, recuperating after having his jaw and throat injured by a lodged bullet, was alert and communicating using hand signals. He was surrounded by his relatives during the hospital visit.
Drawing attention to the incident, President Donald Donald Trump took the opportunity to call out the Democrat’s perceived incapacity to secure the nation’s borders. Meanwhile, national authorities have directed warnings towards agents engaged in immigration enforcement, regarding potential threats of violent encounters.
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