New York City has politicized immigration and now it is paying the price.
The city and its mayor are now coming under fire for the city’s sanctuary city laws after an illegal immigrant that had been let go rather than being turned over to ICE killed a 92-year-old woman.
Deadly Attack
The attack reportedly happened in the early morning hours of January 6.
Maria Fuertes, 92, was apparently walking home when she was attacked by Reeaz Khan, an illegal immigrant from Guyana.
Fuertes was found “incoherent” on the street around 2 a.m., was then taken to a local hospital, where she would later succumb to her injuries and die.
When Khan was arrested for the assault and murder, he told police that he “fell down, his belt broke, his pants fell down, and his penis fell near her vagina.”
We will file that story for an episode of “That’s Amazing!”
ICE Detainer Ignored
The problem for New York City and Mayor de Blasio is two-fold here.
First, there is the fact illegal immigrants are clearly not making New York a safer place to live.
Second, because New York City is a sanctuary city, the ICE detainer that was put on Khan was not honored by local authorities.
Khan had previously been arrested on assault and weapons charges, but the NYPD ignored the detainer and allowed Khan to go free.
Field Office Director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Thomas Decker stated, “New York City’s sanctuary policies continue to threaten the safety of all residents of the five boroughs, as they repeatedly protect criminal aliens who show little regard for the laws of this nation.
“In New York City alone, hundreds of arrestees are released each month with pending charges and/or convictions to return back into the communities where they committed their crimes, instead of being transferred into the custody of ICE.
“Clearly the politicians care more about criminal illegal aliens than the citizens they are elected to serve and protect.”
The NYPD pushed back stating it never got the detainer, so ICE was more than happy to post a copy of the detainer it had faxed to the NYPD on Khan…
"It is the height of hypocrisy for NYC to blame ICE for this tragic crime. The mayor & police chief have continually celebrated that they don’t honor ICE detainers, & to deflect the criticism for this completely preventable murder is incredibly disingenuous & shameful… (1/2) pic.twitter.com/zTQIBIfoR9
— ICE (@ICEgov) January 15, 2020
Even with the death of this woman, however, de Blasio continues to defend his policy, claiming it makes the city safer than ever…
The last time crime was as low in New York City as it is right now, the Dodgers were in Brooklyn and your boss was in Queens — and in diapers. If you’re serious about keeping our country safe, quit spreading lies about the good work of the NYPD. https://t.co/cfua03lGWn
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 16, 2020
DHS Responded to his tweet in-kind…
Hypocrisy. De Blasio runs & hides behind police b/c he cannot defend his anti-law enforcement policies. Tell me Mr. Mayor: What are you going to tell her family? ‘I could have prevented your loved one’s rape & murder but I decided to provide sanctuary to criminal aliens instead.’ https://t.co/H0XFen2aDh
— ARCHIVED DHS Spokesperson (@SpoxDHS) January 16, 2020
This is yet another death that could have been prevented simply by following policy.
Had Khan been deported, Ms. Fuertes would still be alive today.
No snarky comment from the failed presidential candidate and New York City mayor will change that fact.