Staten Island Reporter

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) has announced that NYPD Lieutenant Ben Kurian, who was attacked by migrants in Times Square, will be her guest to the State of the Union on March 7 in Washington, DC. Malliotakis expressed her support for Lt. Kurian and highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement officers, stating, "Our NYPD officers are on the front line every single day working to keep our streets safe, and unfortunately now they are being forced to deal with hundreds of violent crimes being committed by those in our country illegally." She further emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of illegal immigration, urging the Biden Administration to end its current border policies.

In a statement, Malliotakis said, "The horrifying video of Lt. Kurian and his fellow officer being attacked by a mob in Times Square was hard to watch, but it shed a light on just how difficult our officers' jobs have become." She added, "I'm honored to have Lt. Kurian accompany me to the State of the Union to not only show support for New York City's finest but to also bring attention to the need for the Biden Administration to end its dangerous border policies that have allowed millions of unvetted individuals to enter our country illegally."

Lt. Kurian, a Queens resident and a nearly 20-year veteran of the NYPD, has a distinguished career, having been promoted to Sergeant in 2012, Lieutenant in 2021, and receiving three awards for excellent police duty throughout his service.