A chilling confrontation in a Manhattan park has drawn national attention after an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot in the face by an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal record — an incident that underscores growing concerns about violent crime and immigration enforcement in New York City. According to a report that appeared in The New York Post on Sunday, the attack unfolded late at night along the Hudson River in Fort Washington Park and ended with both the agent and the gunman hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

The assailant, identified by law enforcement sources as 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national, allegedly targeted the federal agent and his female companion in a brazen armed robbery. As The New York Post reported, Mora, riding a moped with an accomplice, ambushed the couple just before midnight on Saturday.

Police sources told The New York Post that after a brief exchange and physical struggle, Mora opened fire, striking the 42-year-old agent in the face and forearm. Despite his injuries, the off-duty officer managed to return fire, hitting Mora multiple times. The suspected assailant later walked into a Bronx hospital seeking treatment and was placed in custody. The second suspect remains at large.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to The New York Post that the injured federal agent is in stable condition and undergoing surgery. The agency did not release the officer’s name but acknowledged that he was a member of the U.S. Border Patrol and had acted in self-defense during the attack.

Mora’s presence in the United States traces back to an illegal crossing at the southern border in April 2023 — a fact confirmed by DHS officials. Sources familiar with the case told The New York Post that Mora was released into the country due to overcrowding at a border detention facility and was issued a notice to appear before a judge at a later date.

Mora’s subsequent record in New York raises sharp questions about the city’s handling of repeat offenders. According to law enforcement sources cited in The New York Post report, Mora had been arrested at least four times in the city, only to be released without bail after each incident. Among the most alarming charges were two arrests in August 2024, one involving an alleged assault on a pregnant woman and another in which Mora reportedly threatened a fellow migrant with a machete.

In November 2024, Mora was again arrested for violating an order of protection, and by January of this year, he had a bench warrant issued for his arrest, according to information obtained by The New York Post. Authorities also confirmed that Mora was wanted in Massachusetts on kidnapping and weapons charges at the time of his latest encounter with law enforcement.

The violent episode in Fort Washington Park highlights what The New York Post has consistently characterized as a pattern of systemic failure — both in the federal immigration system and in New York City’s approach to criminal justice. The fact that Mora remained free despite a documented history of violent behavior and multiple arrests has intensified scrutiny of the city’s no-bail policies and the broader national debate over immigration enforcement.

Law enforcement officials, speaking on background to The New York Post, expressed frustration over Mora’s repeated releases. One officer noted that Mora’s ability to remain at large, despite multiple arrests and pending charges in other states, represented a “breakdown at every level” of the system.

The New York Police Department’s ongoing search for the second suspect — who fled the scene after the shooting — adds another layer of urgency to the investigation. The NYPD has ramped up patrols in the area and is working with federal authorities to locate the fugitive accomplice.

This violent encounter between a federal agent and a repeat-offender illegal immigrant has sparked fresh criticism from law enforcement unions and immigration policy advocates alike. The incident comes amid an escalating debate over border security and public safety in sanctuary jurisdictions such as New York City.

While the federal agent recovers from his injuries, questions remain about how a known offender like Mora — subject to both deportation proceedings and criminal warrants — was allowed to remain free on city streets. The report spotlighted the disconnect between local law enforcement’s repeated encounters with Mora and the absence of effective measures to detain or deport him.

This case has also brought renewed attention to the city’s policy of releasing suspects without bail in many cases, even when serious charges are involved. Critics of these reforms argue that such policies enable repeat offenders to cycle through the justice system without meaningful accountability, putting the public — and law enforcement — at continued risk.

As investigations continue, federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are closely examining the circumstances of Mora’s entry into the United States, his subsequent arrests, and the apparent failure to enforce existing legal actions against him.

Fort Washington Park, where the attack took place, is a popular spot for residents and visitors, making the violent assault especially concerning for local communities. The New York Post quoted sources saying that the brazenness of the attack — in a well-frequented public space — has intensified concerns about rising criminal activity involving known offenders.

At press time, The New York Post confirmed that the off-duty Border Patrol agent remains hospitalized but is expected to recover fully. Mora is under police custody, receiving treatment for his gunshot wounds, while charges stemming from the robbery, assault, and previous offenses are expected to be filed formally in the coming days.

The attack has illustrated — in the starkest of terms — the real-world consequences of policy failures in both immigration enforcement and criminal justice.