Congressman Cuellar Compares Border Safety to D.C. After Carjacking Incident

After being carjacked near the Capitol, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D., Texas) raised eyebrows by contrasting the safety of his border hometown to that of Washington, D.C. "Coming from the border and residing there, I often hear members discuss its dangers," Cuellar told the Washington Post. "Yet, I've found the border to be far safer than my experiences in Washington."

The incident occurred in the Navy Yard district of Washington, D.C., where Cuellar was confronted by three masked individuals wielding firearms. The assailants swiftly deprived him of his car, electronics, and sushi dinner. Though shaken by the experience, Cuellar was not physically harmed. The police subsequently managed to retrieve the stolen items.

During a conversation with reporters, Cuellar, who holds a black belt, recounted the harrowing event. "Facing three firearms, I realized resistance was not the best option. They demanded my car, and I complied," he elaborated, according to NBC Washington. The Congressman also doubted that his attackers recognized him or that it was a politically motivated assault.

Washington, D.C., has witnessed a concerning spike in violent crimes. Current data indicates that the city could see the highest homicide rates in the past twenty years, according to The New York Times. Specifically, carjacking incidents have sharply increased, with 753 cases already reported in 2023, surpassing the 485 total incidents from the previous year.