In a shocking turn of events that once again highlights the failings of the current immigration policies, a group of peaceful marchers calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza found themselves unexpectedly attacked in what can only be described as a heinous act of violence. The alleged assailant, a 45-year-old individual from El Paso, reportedly used a make-shift flamethrower, setting people on fire while yelling “Free Palestine.” Clearly, shouting slogans wasn’t radical enough; now we’ve escalated to pyrotechnics.

This unprovoked attack left eight people injured, men and women with ages ranging from 52 to 88. Such brutality underscores the growing hostility some individuals harbor and their willingness to resort to terroristic violence to deliver their message. The local law enforcement and FBI have stepped in, classifying this as an act of terrorism—a classification this vicious act rightfully deserves. Our nation must remain vigilant against those who use violence to silence differing voices.

While the suspect is in custody, it turns out that he was in the country on an expired work visa. The supposed layers of immigration verification appear to have more holes than Swiss cheese under the current administration’s watch. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE are caught once again explaining how someone managed to overstay their welcome and bring their personal brand of mayhem onto American streets. Perhaps a bit more time on securing borders and visas, and a little less on pandering, could prevent such violent episodes.

Responses to the attack from public figures varied in tone, but many agreed on condemning the violence and antisemitism. Statements flew in rapidly from the governor of Colorado, and even the Israeli Prime Minister himself felt compelled to comment. It’s not every day that pages of foreign policy textbooks come to life on American soil, conjuring up chilling echoes of incidents that typically occur far from our own borders.

In light of this attack, the New York Police Department has decided to increase security around religious sites. Maybe if they fortify those with as much scrutiny as, say, a small spider web, they might actually deter the next lunatic with a homemade weapon of mass destruction. This situation should remind everyone that tolerating extremist ideologies in any form always leads to tragedy. It’s long past time for everyone to stop tiptoeing around incitement and start tackling the decay of civil discourse head-on.