U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons has publicly condemned leading New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his absence of public comments regarding the recent shooting of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer during an alleged robbery in a New York City park. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, saw the off-duty CBP officer sustained injuries, though the officer is reported to be in stable condition. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Lyons called Mamdani’s silence ‘deafening, deliberate, and disturbing,’ suggesting that the mayoral candidate’s positions on law enforcement are at odds with public safety measures. This accusation comes amidst an ongoing national debate about immigration policy and the role of sanctuary cities. In response to the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin have linked the attack to ‘sanctuary policies,’ urging politicians across the nation to prioritize the safety of American citizens above all else.
The shooting reportedly followed an alleged attempted robbery by two illegal immigrants, Dominican nationals Cristian Aybar Berroa and Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez. According to authorities, the suspects targeted an off-duty CBP officer who was present in the park during the incident. The officer was struck in the face and forearm, suffering injuries that have left the officer hospitalized. Nunez was also wounded in the leg and groin and was subsequently taken to a Bronx hospital. Both suspects have been apprehended by law enforcement. McLaughlin criticized sanctuary policies, asserting that ‘these criminal illegal aliens pulled the trigger, but Zohran Mamdani, and other sanctuary politicians in this country have blood on their hands.’ The statement highlights the growing tensions between political figures and federal immigration agencies concerning the enforcement of immigration law and the safety of law enforcement officers.
The incident has sparked a broader national discussion, particularly regarding President Joe Biden’s border policies and the influence of sanctuary cities. Fox News Digital contacted Mamdani’s campaign for a comment but did not receive a response at the time of the report. Mamdani, who is currently the Democratic nominee and a likely frontrunner for New York City mayor, has faced significant criticism for his previous calls to defund the police and his opposition to working with Trump to deport illegal immigrants if he were to win the election. In a recent statement, Mamdani declared his intention to halt ‘masked’ ICE officials from ‘deporting our neighbors,’ a position that has drawn criticism from various quarters.
Some of Mamdani’s opponents have responded to the shooting by advocating for the arrest of criminal immigrants. Mayor Eric Adams, for example, expressed his willingness to welcome additional ICE agents to New York City if they focus on targeting dangerous individuals like the suspects in the shooting. Adams emphasized, however, that he would not support efforts targeting ordinary individuals seeking to become citizens. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, on the other hand, has stated that he is the only candidate on the ballot who opposes sanctuary city status, a stance that has further intensified the political discourse surrounding the issue in New York City.
Meanwhile, the controversy has extended beyond New York City, with federal immigration authorities facing increased scrutiny and, in some cases, violence. For instance, border patrol agents were recently ambushed at an annex facility in McAllen, Texas, where a local police officer was struck in the leg, and two Border Patrol personnel were injured. The gunman was killed in the confrontation. Additionally, twelve individuals are currently facing charges, including ten for attempted murder of federal officers, in an Independence Day attack outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. A police officer was shot in the neck but is expected to recover, while vehicles were vandalized as part of the attack. According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE agents have faced an 830% increase in assaults since this time last year, as the Trump administration has continued to ramp up deportation and immigration enforcement efforts.
The ongoing discussions and events highlight the deepening divisions in American politics regarding immigration policy, law enforcement, and the role of various governmental entities in ensuring national security. As the situation in New York City and across the country continues to evolve, the debate remains at the forefront of national conversations and political strategies.