Palestinian Migrant Accused of Assaulting Jewish Man Released After Illegal Border Crossing

A self-described Palestinian migrant, Bechir Lehbeib, has been accused of assaulting a Jewish man in Long Island, New York. Shockingly, it has been revealed that Lehbeib had previously entered the United States illegally and was released shortly after his apprehension. The details of this case have been exclusively obtained from a House Judiciary Committee report.

Lehbeib, 26, from Mauritania, illegally crossed the southern border into Lukeville, Arizona, on July 20, 2023, along with a group of over 200 individuals. The report states that he was released on his own recognizance just two days later, claiming that he feared for his safety in his home country. Subsequently, Lehbeib made his way to New York, where he allegedly stole a pro-Israel flag from a porch in Hewlett, Nassau County, in February.

When confronted by the homeowner, Aleksandr Binyaminov, Lehbeib engaged in a physical altercation. Binyaminov, who had lost a relative in the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, recounted the incident, stating that Lehbeib began punching him in the face and eventually threw him to the ground, headbutting him. Throughout the assault, Lehbeib repeatedly declared, “I’m from Palestine.”

Following his arrest, Lehbeib reportedly told the police, “If I see the flag of the people that killed my people, we will have a problem.” He now faces hate-crime charges, including second-degree assault, robbery, and criminal mischief, and is being held on a $50,000 bond.

The situation has sparked outrage among local authorities in Nassau County, with County Executive Bruce Blakeman emphasizing that the county is not a sanctuary for criminals. Blakeman expressed his frustration with the lax border vetting that allowed someone like Lehbeib to roam freely, stating, “These aren’t people kissing the ground when they come here. They’re spitting on our flag. It’s an invasion. It’s a disgrace.”

The House Judiciary Committee has been releasing reports throughout the year, shedding light on crimes allegedly committed by migrants in major cities such as New York and Chicago. Former Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott testified before a committee panel last year, highlighting the subpar vetting process that allows criminals to enter the US, comparing it to referencing them “against a blank sheet of paper.”