NEW YORK CITY – A recent violent attack on several New York City police officers by illegal migrants has prompted Senate Judiciary ranking member Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to demand answers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Graham is seeking clarity on what actions the agencies will take in response to the attack, expressing concern over the existing consequences of President Biden’s illegal immigration crisis.
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Graham raised questions about the potential deportation of the attackers and sought clarity on the agencies’ plan to address the “brazen attack.” The attack, which occurred near Times Square, left several NYPD officers subjected to a violent beat-down by a dozen migrants.
Over the weekend, two NYPD officers were attacked by at least seven illegal migrants near Times Square and were later released without bail following their arrest. Surveillance footage released by the New York Police Department shows the officers telling the group to move along, escalating into a scuffle as the officers tried to subdue someone on the ground. The suspects were later seen kicking the officers before running off and getting arrested shortly after.
The suspects have been identified as Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, Kelvin Servat Arocha, Wilson Juarez, Jhoan Boada, and Yorman Reveron. They were charged with assault and released without bail, with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirming that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Meanwhile, DHS has not yet responded to requests for comment on the letter, and Mayorkas faces a possible impeachment vote in the House following the House Homeland Security Committee’s clearance of a resolution for his impeachment. Leaving police custody, one of the suspects, Jhoan Boada, not only gave news cameras a double-handed middle finger but also smirked at reporters and photographers outside the Midtown South Precinct in Manhattan.
The attack and subsequent release of the suspects have reignited discussions around the implications of the current immigration crisis, with lawmakers and law enforcement agencies grappling with challenges related to the treatment and processing of migrants involved in criminal activities. As the investigation into this specific incident continues, the broader conversation around illegal immigration and its impact on law enforcement and public safety is expected to persist.