Rep. Malliotakis invites police officer attacked by migrants to State of the Union

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) invited Lt. Ben Kurian of the NYPD to join her at the State of the Union after he and another officer were attacked by a group of migrants in Times Square.

The February incident involving Lt. Kurian, Police Officer Zunxu Tian and five migrants caught national attention as video showed the migrants punching and kicking the officers when they tried to take a member of the group into custody.

“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,” Malliotakis said in a press release. “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. 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.”

Per the New York Post, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is “co-hosting” the attendance of both officers. The speaker also extended an invitation to the officers to join him in his box during the speech. Lt. Kurian, who is nearing two decades of NYPD service, will be Rep. Malliotakis’ guest for the March 7 event, while Officer Tian will be hosted by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Town of Hempstead/City of Long Beach).