Debate over border safety after migrant rapes minor in Albany

(WIVT/WBGH) – Democratic candidate for Congress, Josh Riley, is demanding that career politicians secure the border, before more New Yorkers get hurt.

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Albany last month by a 21-year-old asylum seeker, and just yesterday, a migrant who entered the country illegally, is accused of strangling and murdering a Syracuse woman.

Riley says career politicians, including Congressman Marc Molinaro and President Biden are blaming each other for the crisis at the Southern border, rather than solving the problem.

He says he supported a bi-partisan bill that would’ve increased the number border patrol agents, new tech to stop fentanyl from coming into the country, and sped up the asylum claims process, but politicians like Molinaro voted against it.

“As the father to two little kids, these stories are heartbreaking and they’re also infuriating. Tragedies like these could have been avoided, but incompetent, career politicians have been sitting around, playing politics, looking out for themselves, and letting it happen,” said Riley.

News 34 spoke with Molinaro, and he says Riley argued to dismantle former president Donald Trump’s border policies, and now he’s flip-flopped and is criticizing Biden’s handling of it.

Molinaro says the focus should be on the victims and their families, not to gain a political advantage.

“In millions of individuals crossing into this country, and because of it, we have seen far too many tragedies. And using this as some sort of political theatre, is shameful. There are lives that have been impacted,” said Molinaro.

The 21-year-old, Sakir Akkan, who allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl, appeared before Albany City Court yesterday, after previously entering a plea of not guilty. The hearing ended with bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

The man who killed the Syracuse woman is a citizen of Ecuador and is in custody at the Onondaga County Justice Center on no bail.

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