The second individual implicated in the ambush of a New York City off-duty Border Patrol agent on July 19 is also an undocumented immigrant who has benefited from sanctuary policies, Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem stated in a press briefing on Monday. Both individuals are in police custody.
The two suspects attacked the officer and his friends at Fort Washington Park, located beneath the George Washington Bridge, on July 19. Security footage, described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a botched robbery, depicts the two assailants approaching the officer and his companions. Fortunately, the officer, armed at the time, was able to defend himself and injured one of the suspects, identified as Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez.
Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended the second suspect on Monday morning, confirming he is also an undocumented immigrant.
“Christian Aibar Velour is originally from the Dominican Republic. He entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration in 2022 and was ordered removed in 2023 by an immigration judge,” Noem mentioned while showing his mugshot.
“He has a criminal record in New York City, which has been overlooked due to @ericadamsfornyc’s Sanctuary City policies,” she added. “He was previously arrested for reckless endangerment and theft and was released before ICE intervened.”
Noem explained that the injured suspect, Mora Nunez, sought medical assistance after the incident and is also a Dominican national who “illegally entered this country in 2023,” eventually being released into the U.S. by the Biden administration. He carries a “lengthy criminal record.”
“He has faced charges for grand larceny and assault. Massachusetts has an outstanding warrant for him related to armed robbery. His record includes various other offenses, such as fraud and witness intimidation,” she noted.
Noem emphasized in her press conference that there is “absolutely no reason” for such individuals to be free, urging leaders in sanctuary cities and states to reconsider their policies.
“It’s undeniable that this officer is in the hospital, fighting for his life because of the choices made by the mayor, the city council, and those entrusted with public safety,” she remarked. “They have failed, leaving us in a situation where someone dedicated to protecting the public is now fighting to save himself.”
