Rep. Mark Harris: “Iryna Zarutska fled Ukraine for safety but Democrats' soft-on-crime policies failed her.”

WASHINGTON, DC — On Monday, Congressman Mark Harris (NC-08) penned an op-ed in Fox Opinion slamming Democrats for their soft-on-crime policies that freed Iryna Zarutska’s murderer.

Congressman Mark Harris represents part of the Charlotte area, near where the murder took place, and serves on the House Judiciary Committee.

Some key quotes are below:

• “Iryna Zarutska fled war-torn Ukraine seeking safety — but America failed her.”
  
   
• “This incident reflects a broader crisis unfolding across our nation, where soft-on-crime policies allow dangerous criminals to evade accountability.”
  
   
• “Though addressing root causes is important, we cannot ignore the immediate need to protect our communities by ensuring repeat offenders face consequences. Loving our neighbors means protecting them from people who have no business walking our streets.”
  
   
• “The violence in Charlotte is a microcosm of a national epidemic.”
  
   
• “Sadly, Democrat policies too often protect illegal aliens, criminals, terrorists, and gang members, leaving American communities exposed to violence. Republicans prioritize the safety of law-abiding citizens over the feelings of criminals.”
  
   
• “Zarutska’s death is a call to action. America must be a place of safety and peace.”
  
   
• “I urge my Democratic colleagues to join Republicans in putting victims first, supporting law enforcement, and investing in our communities. Together, we can honor Iryna Zarutska’s memory by building a safer, stronger America — one where no 23-year-old woman fears being stabbed by a repeat offender who appeared to be just a stranger sitting behind her on a train.”

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