In a world where some believe the immigration system is as solid as a wet paper bag, another unsettling incident has occurred, reinforcing cries for change in border policies. In Charlotte, North Carolina, a shocking event unfolded on the city’s light rail system. An illegal migrant, who had been deported not once, but twice, allegedly stabbed a man while he was apparently intoxicated. It raises the question of how many times someone should be shown the door before they actually use it.
The 33-year-old suspect from Honduras, who had re-entered the United States illegally multiple times, has a rap sheet longer than a CVS receipt. With prior convictions for robbery and arrests for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, and using false identification, he appeared to consider America his personal playground. This character was deported during the Trump administration in 2018, managed to sneak back in under the Biden administration, got deported again, then returned for a repeat performance. It’s as though the revolving door policy seems to be “third time’s the charm.”
This particular incident was too reminiscent of another violent act on the same rail line. Just a few months prior, a Ukrainian refugee fell victim to a stabbing. The assailant has now been charged with attempted murder, among other things, after this brazen attack. Nonetheless, it dredges up the pressing concern of why individuals with such clear disregard for the law find it so easy to come back into the country.
Local leaders are left to wrestle with the implications of these violent incidents. The city’s mayor, often critical of more stringent immigration enforcement efforts, lamented over public safety as something beyond the city’s jurisdiction. It’s always easier to point fingers than find solutions. Meanwhile, GOP Congressman Mark Harris highlighted the absurdity of catering to those who flout the law rather than protect citizens who become unwitting targets of violent acts like these.
In the grand scheme of things, Charlotte finds itself under the magnifying glass. The city’s law enforcement capabilities are stretched thin, reportedly short by 300 officers. Some suggest calling in the National Guard as a temporary measure, similar to what has been seen in places like Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. But the Democratic leadership isn’t keen on this approach, leaving residents to question the priorities of their officials.
As if on cue, former President Trump has voiced his discontent with the state of affairs. Stabbings by individuals who shouldn’t even be in the country seem to him like a symptom of Democratic policymaking gone awry. Charlotte, and potentially other cities, could benefit from revisiting their stance on law enforcement and border control. Until then, it seems those in charge might continue rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, hoping it never sinks.
