Judge Sentences Illegal Immigrant to 15 Years for Shooting Off-Duty Officer
Illegal immigrant Miguel Mora Nunez receives maximum sentence for attacking off-duty CBP officer.
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A U.S. District Court judge has sentenced an illegal immigrant to 15 years in prison for shooting an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer in a New York park, aiming to send a clear message against criminal behavior by undocumented individuals.
Maximum Sentence for Violent Crime
22-year-old Dominican national Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez was sentenced by Judge Loretta Preska after pleading guilty to his role in the July 19, 2025, attack. The incident occurred in Fort Washington Park in Manhattan when Mora Nunez, along with another illegal immigrant, ambushed an off-duty officer, Joshua Sinclair, while riding a moped.
Mora Nunez shot the officer in the face and right arm before the officer returned fire, wounding the assailant. The attack drew attention from former President Donald Trump, who blamed Democratic politicians for the incident, calling for stricter enforcement against undocumented criminals.
Escalating Criminal History
Mora Nunez, who had crossed the border illegally into Arizona in 2023 and was released by the Biden administration, had a long history of criminal activity in New York. Despite having a deportation order, he was repeatedly arrested and released without bail, leading to multiple charges including assault and weapons offenses.
Authorities arrested Mora Nunez twice in August 2024 for assaulting a pregnant woman and threatening another migrant with a machete. He also faced a separate murder case, with a potential sentence of 25-years-to-life pending.
Community and Law Enforcement Response
CBP Director Francis J. Russo praised the sentence as a step toward justice for the officer and the community. “This resolution sends an unmistakable message that violence against law enforcement will be met with the full weight of the law,” Russo said.
Mora Nunez, who showed remorse during the sentencing hearing, expressed his desire to be with his daughter and avoid the events that led to the shooting. However, Judge Preska remained unconvinced, citing his alleged bragging about his charges to other inmates.
Source: Daily Wire
