Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing backlash for not addressing the recent arrest of an illegal immigrant gang member accused of shooting two NYPD officers. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis took to social media, calling out Ocasio-Cortez with the message, “Hey Baby Girl, two cops were shot in your district by an illegal immigrant who we NOW find out is a Venezuelan gang member being housed in a hotel at our constituents’ expense and you still have NOTHING to say about it?? Really?” Malliotakis’ tweet included a screenshot of a New York Post headline detailing the incident.
According to The Post, the suspect, 19-year-old Bernardo Castro Mata, entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and had his case dismissed under a Biden administration “mass amnesty” program. Mata, identified as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was residing in a migrant shelter hotel. He was charged on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the shooting and has also been linked to multiple violent robberies in May.
Law enforcement sources revealed that Mata was involved in two scooter snatch-and-grab robberies targeting women. In one incident, Mata and an accomplice reportedly robbed a woman on Bruckner Boulevard and Buhre Avenue in The Bronx, stealing her purse and displaying a gun. In another, Mata attempted to shoplift in Queens and brandished a firearm when confronted by security.
Despite these allegations, Mata has not been charged for the robberies. Concerns over rising gang activity among undocumented immigrants have heightened amidst the increased border crossings. Immigration has remained a top concern for voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election, posing significant challenges for President Joe Biden as he prepares to contest former President Donald Trump for re-election.
