An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was shot in the face Saturday night in a shocking act of violence that underscores the risks our border agents face daily.
According to The Western Journal, the suspect, 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, entered the U.S. unlawfully in April 2023 and was released due to a reported lack of detention space.
Mora was apprehended by Border Patrol near San Luis, Arizona, but instead of being detained or deported, he was let go under policies that many argue prioritize capacity over security. This decision set the stage for a string of criminal acts that culminated in Saturday’s shooting in Manhattan.
After his release, Mora quickly built a disturbing record of offenses across multiple states. He was wanted in Massachusetts for kidnapping and weapons charges, a clear sign of his dangerous tendencies.
In New York alone, Mora racked up four arrests for crimes including assaulting a pregnant woman, threatening another migrant with a machete, and violating protection orders. Yet, each time, he was released without bail or an ICE hold.
This pattern of catch-and-release in Democrat-led cities raises serious questions about accountability. While law-abiding citizens face strict consequences, some policies seem to shield repeat offenders from real repercussions.
Saturday night’s attack saw Mora allegedly shoot the CBP officer in the face and arm during a violent confrontation. Miraculously, the officer managed to return fire, striking Mora three times.
DHS video footage captured the chaotic scene, showing suspects fleeing on a moped after the exchange of gunfire. It’s a stark image of how quickly a routine night can turn deadly for those protecting our borders.
President Donald Trump took to social media to condemn the incident, calling out the suspect as someone who should never have been in the country under the current administration’s watch. His words resonate with many who see this as a failure of border enforcement.
Trump’s statement points to a broader issue: the release of individuals with known criminal intent due to supposed space constraints. It’s a policy that critics argue has turned every American city into a potential frontline.
Statistics paint a grim picture, with nearly 5,000 arrests of unauthorized migrants in New York City shelters over less than two years, per Fox News reports. These numbers suggest a systemic problem that goes beyond isolated incidents.
The compassion of offering shelter must be balanced with the duty to protect citizens and law enforcement. Ignoring criminal histories in the name of progressive ideals risks more lives, as Saturday’s shooting painfully illustrates.
This incident didn’t occur in a border state like Texas or Arizona but in the heart of Manhattan, proving that lax enforcement affects every corner of the nation. Every city now bears the burden of unsecured borders.
Our law enforcement officers, already stretched thin, are forced into combat zones created by policy decisions that defy common sense. They deserve better than to be targets of preventable violence.
Americans, whether they acknowledge it or not, are less safe when border security is treated as an afterthought. It’s time for a return to policies that prioritize the safety of citizens and the brave officers who defend us over ideological experiments.
