By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
A woman was burned alive in one of the most horrific acts of violence imaginable — set on fire as she slept in a New York City subway station, dying a slow and agonizing death as her attacker stood by and watched.
This is not just a tragic story. It is a searing indictment of the failed policies that enabled this crime to occur in the first place.
The suspect, now identified as an illegal immigrant from Guatemala — previously deported but re-entered illegally — should never have been here. Yet, because of weak immigration enforcement, sanctuary city protections and an unsecured border, he was free to roam our streets and commit this unspeakable act. While the media celebrates the use of surveillance technology in his apprehension, it is merely a distraction from the real question: Why was this man allowed to be here at all?
Instead of confronting this uncomfortable truth, news outlets have chosen to focus on the marvels of modern technology that led to the suspect’s capture. They point to facial recognition and surveillance systems as if they are victories worth celebrating, ignoring the glaring fact that the system failed when it mattered most — before the crime occurred.
This is not justice. Justice would have been preventing this criminal from crossing our border illegally in the first place. Justice would have been ensuring that he faced deportation instead of being shielded by sanctuary city policies. Justice would have been a system that protected this woman’s life rather than documenting her death.
Yet, under the current leadership of cities like New York and a federal government more concerned with appeasing activists than enforcing immigration law, these basic safeguards have been abandoned.
The result?
Innocent people pay the ultimate price. New York City proudly labels itself a sanctuary city — a policy that refuses to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, shielding illegal immigrants from deportation and allowing them to evade accountability. Advocates claim these policies promote fairness and inclusivity, but the reality is far darker. Sanctuary policies do not protect the vulnerable, they endanger them.
They create an environment where criminals operate with impunity, emboldened by the knowledge that local authorities will not turn them over to federal immigration officials. In this case, that policy directly contributed to a brutal murder that never should have happened.
This tragedy is not an isolated incident — it is part of a much larger pattern of lawlessness stemming from the Biden Administration’s open-border policies. Millions have crossed into the United States illegally, overwhelming border agents and flooding communities with individuals who cannot be vetted properly.
The left continues to frame illegal immigration as a humanitarian issue while refusing to acknowledge the human costs borne by law-abiding citizens. This woman — burned alive in the supposed safety of a subway station — is the latest victim of policies that prioritize political correctness over public safety.
This horrific murder is a direct result of leadership failures — local, state, and federal. Leaders who refused to enforce immigration laws, who allowed sanctuary policies to flourish, and who demonized law enforcement as oppressive rather than necessary all share responsibility for this tragedy. Instead of prioritizing the safety and security of American citizens, they pandered to radical activists and dismantled the structures that once kept communities secure.
Instead of protecting our borders, they incentivized illegal crossings with promises of amnesty and protection. And now, they hope that flashy headlines about surveillance technology will distract us from their culpability.
This woman’s death must be a wake-up call. The policies that allowed her murderer to enter and remain in this country cannot be excused or ignored any longer. America must regain control over its borders. Illegal crossings must be treated as the criminal acts they are, and those who enter unlawfully must face immediate deportation.
Cities and states must stop shielding illegal immigrants from enforcement actions. Cooperation with federal immigration authorities is essential for protecting public safety. Voters must hold leaders accountable for prioritizing political ideology over the well-being of their constituents. Elected officials who refuse to enforce immigration laws must be replaced.
This was not an act of random misfortune — it was a preventable tragedy. It was the inevitable outcome of policies that have abandoned the rule of law and forsaken the safety of the very people government exists to protect. We must not let this story be buried under feel-good narratives about surveillance technology and crime-solving breakthroughs. This is not a success of justice — it is a failure of governance.
The American people deserve leaders who put security before sanctuary and justice before ideology. If this crime does not jolt us into action, then nothing will. For the sake of this innocent woman — and the countless others who could share her fate — we must demand change.
C. J. Garbo is a cyber security executive for a global technology solutions company and a native of Colorado, holding a bachelor’s in political science from Metropolitan State University of Denver, and a master’s in human resource management from Regis University. He is the vice chair of the Douglas County Planning Commission and the senior legislative aide to Representative-elect Max Brooks of House District 45. C. J. is also a 15-year former law enforcement veteran. He has worked on local campaigns, and as campaign manager for Joe Andujo (District 8, U.S. House) and Greg Lopez (governor). Additionally, he is a former chair of the Douglas County Young Republicans.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.