A federal law enforcement officer suffered devastating injuries after being ambushed and shot by two illegal migrants with extensive criminal histories, exposing the deadly consequences of sanctuary city policies that repeatedly released dangerous criminals onto America’s streets.
Sanctuary City Policies Enable Deadly Attack
On July 19, 2025, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa ambushed an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Fort Washington Park, Manhattan, shooting him in the face and arm during a botched robbery. Both suspects are illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic who accumulated extensive criminal records across multiple states yet remained free due to New York City’s sanctuary policies that refuse cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The attack represents a catastrophic failure of policies that prioritize criminal protection over public safety.
The suspects’ criminal histories span years of violent offenses that should have resulted in deportation. Aybar-Berroa illegally entered the United States on June 19, 2022, while Mora Nunez crossed the border illegally on April 4, 2023. Between 2023 and 2025, both accumulated multiple arrests and criminal charges in New York and Massachusetts, including violent crimes and property offenses. Despite ICE detainers being issued, local authorities repeatedly released both criminals back onto the streets, enabling them to continue their crime spree.
Federal Officer Suffers Life-Altering Injuries
The CBP officer sustained devastating and lasting injuries requiring multiple surgeries, according to federal prosecutors. Shot at close range in the face and arm during the 11:45 p.m. attack, the officer’s injuries represent not just a personal tragedy but an assault on federal law enforcement. The attack occurred minutes after the suspects committed another robbery in the same Manhattan park, demonstrating their escalating pattern of violence that sanctuary policies failed to prevent.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton condemned the attack and pledged aggressive prosecution of both suspects. The officer’s condition, while stable, requires extensive medical care and rehabilitation. His injuries serve as a stark reminder of the human cost when local jurisdictions prioritize political ideology over the safety of law enforcement officers and citizens. The attack targeted a federal agent whose job involves protecting America’s borders, adding insult to the injury of failed immigration policies.
Immigration Enforcement Failures Exposed
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have lodged detainers and are pursuing removal proceedings against both suspects. Federal agencies highlighted the dangerous pattern of local non-cooperation that enabled these criminals to remain free despite their extensive records. The case underscores systematic gaps between federal immigration law and local sanctuary policies that create safe havens for criminal aliens.
Both suspects now face federal and state charges after being arrested within days of the shooting. Mora Nunez was arrested at a Bronx hospital on July 20, while Aybar-Berroa was apprehended the following day. Their July 24 arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court marks the beginning of what federal prosecutors promise will be aggressive prosecution. This case exemplifies the urgent need for policy reform that puts American safety first and ends the dangerous practice of releasing criminal aliens who pose clear threats to public safety.
Sources:
U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York Press Release
Two undocumented immigrants charged in off-duty border agent shooting
DHS: Criminal Illegal Alien with Lengthy Rap Sheet Ambushes and Shoots CBP Officer
ICE Most Wanted: Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez
DHS: Second Criminal Illegal Alien with Lengthy Rap Sheet Arrested