The border crisis is often viewed as a problem confined to areas directly along the US-Mexico border. However, its repercussions extend far beyond, impacting communities nationwide. The recent tragic incident involving a 13-year-old girl in New York City Park, allegedly assaulted by a migrant who had previously been ordered to be deported, highlights just another example of an open border policy resulting on tragedy in cities far beyond the border.
Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi, a 25-year-old Ecuadorian migrant, was arrested for the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in Queens, New York. He had been ordered to leave the United States in February 2022 by an immigration judge but remained in the country, likely through an appeal or application for relief.
Inga-Landi entered the US on June 25, 2021, with his son via the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. They were processed and released by Border Patrol with a Notice to Appear in court due to humanitarian reasons, despite lacking proper documentation. It is common for migrants to be deemed inadmissible to come into the US but then released into the country with a future court date.
On June 13, 2024, Inga-Landi allegedly attacked the girl and a 13-year-old boy in Kissena Park. He reportedly held them at knifepoint with a machete-style blade, tied their wrists with shoelaces, and sexually assaulted the girl. After the assault, he took their phones and told them to stay put for 20 minutes before fleeing. The teens sought help at a nearby school, prompting a 911 call and a massive manhunt.
The issue at hand is not merely about securing the borders but also addressing systemic flaws in the current immigration framework that allow for illegal immigrants like the one described here to remain in the US. Policies such as the “Remain in Mexico” program, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed, aimed to mitigate the influx of undocumented individuals entering the country and overstaying their visas. However, changes in enforcement and policy adjustments have led to unintended consequences, affecting public safety across the country.
For communities far from the border, the impact of ineffective immigration policies manifests in various ways. Overburdened local resources, increased crime rates, and heightened public safety concerns are just a few examples. When individuals who should have been deported remain in the country due to policy loopholes or inadequate enforcement, the risks to community safety are exacerbated.
Strengthening and consistently enforcing immigration policies, such as ensuring timely deportations and maintaining protocols that deter unlawful entry, is needed to prevent tragedies like this in the future. Additionally, there needs to be a comprehensive review of how these policies are implemented and their implications on communities.