Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday visited the Customs and Border Protection officer who was shot in New York City over the weekend during an attempted robbery involving a previously-deported illegal immigrant, while blaming sanctuary policies for playing a role in the attack.

The off-duty officer was allegedly struck in the face and forearm in Manhattan’s Riverside Park on Saturday night. Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national who was caught by Border Patrol in April 2023, was taken into custody following the shooting. 

“There’s absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City,” Noem told reporters Monday in reference to Nunez. “He was arrested four different times in New York City, and because of the mayor’s policies and sanctuary city policies, was released back to do harm to people and to individuals living in this city.”

“We were able to bring the second individual in and have detained him as well, and he will face consequences and hopefully strong prosecution for his crimes and his involvement on Saturday night,” she added. Noem identified that suspect as Christhian Aybar-Berroa, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic who “entered the country illegally in 2022 under the Biden Administration and was ordered for final removal in 2023 by an immigration judge.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sits before President Trump arrives to speak at a roundtable discussion with first responders and local officials at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, during a tour to observe flood damage, on Friday, July 11, 2025.  (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

After being apprehended at the Arizona border, Nunez was released into the U.S., though he still has an active deportation order. 

“We should not be here today. The reason these two assailants are inside the United States today is because of failed border policies by the Biden administration,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said Monday.

“I visited the officer last night, of course, he was heavily sedated, so I didn’t have words with him,” added White House border czar Tom Homan. “But I did talk to his family. They’re devastated. It’s just — it’s just a shock to the soul when you walk in and see that young man laying there.”

“Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals. President Trump is not going to tolerate it,” Homan warned.

Mayor Adams described Nunez as a “21-year-old male [who] has prior arrests for assault and violating an order protection.”  

At the time of this shooting, he had an active bench warrant from the Bronx, was wanted for a robbery from last December, and [a] stabbing from January,” Adams also said. “He has inflicted violence in our city and once he is charged for last night’s crimes, we will be able to add attempted murder to his rap sheet,” the mayor added. 

President Donald Trump weighed in on the shooting Sunday afternoon, writing that “an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden.” 

“The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage,” Trump wrote. 

Fox News’ Bill Melugin and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.