A federal officer lies in a New York City hospital—shot in the face and arm by a man who never should have been on our streets. His name is Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, an illegal migrant with multiple arrests, active warrants, and a deportation order that was never executed. He is the product not just of poor individual choices—but of policy failure at every level of government.
And now, that failure has drawn a line in the sand.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence, calling it an example of a “broken criminal justice system” and acknowledging that violent migrants are “tarnishing” the image of those seeking the American Dream. But what Adams didn’t do—couldn’t bring himself to do—was name the very sanctuary policies that kept this shooter protected. The ones his own administration supports. The same policies that tied the hands of law enforcement and released a known public danger back into the community—multiple times.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, joined by federal border and ICE officials, had no such hesitation. “Sanctuary cities,” she said bluntly, “are sanctuaries for criminals. Hard stop.” And for once, the rhetoric matched reality.
Mora Nunez had been arrested four times in New York and Massachusetts for assault, robbery, kidnapping, and intimidation. At every turn, local policies shielded him from ICE enforcement. These aren’t isolated flaws—they are the logical result of a system that values political optics over public safety. When police are prohibited from coordinating with federal agencies on deportation detainers, when jails become revolving doors, and when violent crime is excused in the name of social justice, the public pays the price.
Mayor Adams is trying to walk a tightrope—blaming “bad migrants” while preserving the political sanctity of New York’s sanctuary status. But in doing so, he avoids the hard truth: You cannot denounce violence while continuing to protect the violent from consequences. You cannot uphold justice while denying federal agents access to jails where repeat offenders await trial. And you cannot claim to care about your community while enabling policies that let career criminals prey on it.
This is not a debate about immigration. It’s a debate about enforcement. The United States welcomes legal immigrants every day. But when ideology trumps law, and when empathy becomes an excuse for inaction, the cost is measured not in votes, but in victims.
As federal agents prepare to “flood the zone” in sanctuary cities, including New York, some will cry foul. But the louder question—the one echoing from hospital rooms, street corners, and grieving families—is this: How many more people must be hurt before we stop shielding criminals in the name of compassion?
Mayor Adams said the system is broken. He’s right. But the break began when we replaced law with leniency, and justice with justification. It’s time to fix it. Not with slogans. Not with press conferences. But with policy.
Because no officer—on duty or off—should ever have to take a bullet for a bureaucracy’s failure.
📘 “Tolerance Is for Cowards”
A Blueprint for Extended Policing & Community-Led Public Safety
By: Damon K. Jones
33-Year Law Enforcement Veteran | Advocate | Community Reformer
This isn’t another opinion piece—it’s a frontline truth from a Black man who wore the badge, saw the failures, and is calling for change.
✅ Exposes the political cowardice behind bad policing
✅ Challenges Black leadership and silence in the ranks
✅ Introduces a bold strategy: the Extended Policing Strategy (EPS)
✅ A must-read for officers, policymakers, activists, and citizens ready to act—not just talk
🔗 Get the book today
📍 Bulk orders available for community forums, police academies, and workshops
📩 Book Damon K. Jones to speak: www.damonkjones.com or contact Black Westchester Magazine
