July 22, 2025 New York, NY – In a forceful declaration following the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, Acting ICE Director Tom Homan announced Monday that the agency would "flood the zone" with agents, directly attributing the incident to sanctuary city policies. The officer was wounded during a botched robbery in Washington Heights over the weekend.

The two suspects, identified as undocumented immigrants, are now awaiting arraignment, igniting a heated debate between federal officials and New York City leadership over immigration enforcement and public safety.

"We're going to flood the zone," Homan stated emphatically. "You don't want to let us in the jail to arrest the bad guy in the safety and security of a jail? You want to release him into the street, which makes it unsafe for the community, makes it unsafe for the officer, makes it unsafe for the alien. Anything can happen in a street arrest."

Federal Officials Point Fingers at NYC's Sanctuary Policies

Homan, alongside Secretary Kristi Noem, visited New York City to address the aftermath of the robbery, which left the 42-year-old CBP officer shot in the face and arm in Fort Washington Park, beneath the George Washington Bridge. The officer is currently recovering.

Both Homan and Noem laid the blame squarely on the city's sanctuary policies, specifically citing Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council for allowing the suspects to remain at large.

"How many more lives will it take, how many more people have to be hurt and victimized before we have public safety be a number one priority in some of our largest cities?" Noem questioned. "When I look at what Mayor Adams has done to New York City, it breaks my heart to see the families that have suffered because of his policies."

The suspects, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa, are both undocumented immigrants from the Dominican Republic, according to officials.

Suspects' Criminal Histories Fuel Debate

Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged that both men possess extensive criminal records and asserted they should have been deported months ago.

Video footage of the incident, released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), shows two individuals on a moped approaching the officer and his female companion. The officer, despite being shot, returned fire with his service weapon, striking the gunman in the leg.

Police records indicate Aybar-Berroa, the alleged moped driver, had been arrested eight times between March and April of last year on a range of charges, including grand larceny, reckless endangerment, and robbery.

DHS confirmed that Mora is in the country illegally, having been ordered to return to the Dominican Republic in 2023. He also faces an active warrant for kidnapping and armed robbery in Massachusetts.

Noem directly implicated Mayor Adams, stating, "Make no mistake, this officer is in the hospital today, fighting for his life, because of the policies of the mayor of the city and the City Council and the people that were in charge of keeping the public safe refused to do so."

Mayor Adams Deflects Blame as ICE Prioritizes Sanctuary Cities

In response to the accusations, Mayor Adams retorted, "I have nothing to do with the rules that are put in place. I just carry out the rules."

Acting ICE Director Homan concluded by announcing that sanctuary cities are now a top priority for the agency, and ICE agents will actively target these areas in an effort to apprehend undocumented immigrants. However, Mayor Adams stated he does not advise agents to pursue individuals actively seeking a path to citizenship.

This incident has amplified the ongoing national debate surrounding immigration enforcement, local sanctuary policies, and the responsibilities of federal versus city authorities in ensuring public safety.