Congressman Langworthy Slams Biden-Harris Administration Policies Following Heinous Axe Murder by Illegal Immigrant in Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) issued a statement after learning that an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Antonio Prieto, who is accused of murdering his wife with an axe, is being detained by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office:  

“It’s absolutely outrageous that an illegal immigrant who brutally murdered his own wife with an axe was able to enter this country under the policies of Border Czar Kamala Harris and commit such a heinous crime right here in our own backyard. The previous administration put strong policies in place that actually worked to secure our borders and kept dangerous criminals like this out, but since Harris and Biden took office, they’ve torn down every protection, created this border crisis, and thrown the door wide open for violent offenders to pour into our communities unchecked. Western New Yorkers and innocent Americans everywhere are already paying the price for Harris’s failed leadership—how many more lives will be destroyed before she finally takes responsibility and ends this chaos once and for all?”

Congressman Langworthy also thanked the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, saying, “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the brave men and women of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep our community safe in the face of this border crisis. Despite being forced to deal with dangerous criminals who never should have been allowed into our country, they’ve continued to serve with courage and professionalism.”

Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia said this morning, “The immigration crisis continues to impact the taxpayers of Erie County. Antonio Prieto, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who is accused of murdering his wife with an axe and was then found with apparent self-inflicted knife wounds, is currently being housed at the Erie County Holding Center. Prieto is one of six Incarcerated Individuals at either the Erie County Holding Center or Erie County Correctional Facility with an immigration detainer placed on them. That means ICE intends to eventually take custody of these individuals, and they may be subject to possible removal from the United States.”

Sheriff Garcia continued, “The allegations of which Mr. Prieto must defend himself are abhorrent. Now, for the indefinite future, he will be a drain on Erie County resources. While it is difficult to estimate the average daily cost to incarcerate an individual, it is safe to say that Mr. Prieto is on the high end of that cost. To ensure his safety, he is currently under constant observation, requiring 24/7 attention from a deputy. Additionally, we are expecting to soon receive a bill from ECMC for the medical care he received after his arrest. The federal government must do more to address its immigration problem and keep people like Mr. Prieto out of the United States.”