Twice-deported United cockpit suspect granted asylum after transgender persecution claim: DHS
Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, 34, was granted asylum by an immigration judge after his third attempted illegal entry into the United States in 2019, according to DHS, which accused him of exploiting weaknesses in the asylum system.
Key points
- A twice-deported Honduran national accused of trying to storm the cockpit of a United Airlines flight after allegedly claiming to have a bomb was granted asylum after telling immigration authorities he feared being killed in his home country because he was transgender, the Department of Homeland Security DHS confirmed to Fox News.
- DHS previously confirmed that Gomez-Alberto was apprehended by Border Patrol after illegally entering the United States near El Indio, Texas, in September 2011 and Columbus, New Mexico, in October 2014.
- In an excerpt of his asylum application provided by DHS, Gomez-Alberto checked "Yes" when asked whether he feared harm or mistreatment if returned to his home country.
"This twice-deported criminal illegal alien was allowed into our country because of a weak asylum system that allowed him to game the system." Gomez-Alberto was arrested after United Airlines Flight 2174 landed in New Orleans Nov.
Additional details
- MAN ACCUSED OF THREATENING TO HIJACK UNITED FLIGHT SAYS IT WAS A DRUNKEN JOKE He is being held without bond on charges of terrorizing, communicating false information of planned arson and being a fugitive from justice, according to Fox News Digital's earlier reporting.
- ICE released Gomez-Alberto from custody in January 2020 following an immigration judge's order, pending removal proceedings, DHS previously said.
- He was deported from the United States following both encounters.
- EXCLUSIVE: WOMAN ALLEGEDLY RAPED BY ILLEGAL ALIEN AFTER CLINTON-APPOINTED FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERED HIS RELEASE Border Patrol arrested him again in 2019 after an attempted illegal entry near San Ysidro, California.
- "This criminal illegal alien attempted to storm the cockpit, hijack a plane and claimed he had a bomb.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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