NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 14: Department of Homeland Security agents stand guard at court hearing at Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse ahead of a Luigi Mangione court hearing on August 14, 2026 in New York City. Mangione is set to appear in court for his federal case, where he is expected to plead guilty to two federal counts of stalking. He is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges. (Credit: Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
A Family That Never Made It Out of the Building
Jefferson Velazquez had done precisely what the U.S. immigration system required of him. The Honduran asylum-seeker showed up. In July 2025, he and his family appeared for a scheduled hearing at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, where an immigration judge reviewed their pending case and set a return date in October — granting additional time for the family to secure an attorney. A pastor who accompanied them confirmed no adverse ruling had been issued. Their asylum claim remained alive and active.
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