New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used his X account on Saturday to share that President Donald Trump has agreed to issue a visa for the mother of Javits Frimpong, the 15‑year‑old Ghanaian immigrant who was fatally shot while walking to school in the Bronx earlier this week.
Tragedy sparks swift response
Javits Frimpong was shot in the abdomen shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Thursday as he headed to school in a Bronx neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that day. Police have not yet made any arrests and the investigation remains ongoing.
“The murder of a child is a pain no parent should have to endure, let alone from thousands of miles away,” Mamdani wrote. “Javits Frimpong’s mother deserves to say goodbye to her son in person. I just got off the phone with President Trump and he has agreed to grant her a visa immediately.”
Officials emphasize community mourning
Mayor Mamdani added that “all of New York City is mourning this tragedy.” U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from the Bronx, echoed the sentiment, noting that the young man had arrived in the United States a year ago to join his father and begin a new life. “Every child in the Bronx deserves to walk to school without fearing for their life,” Torres said.
Thomas Frimpong, the victim’s father, described his son as a quiet teenager who spent much of his time on his cellphone. He told reporters that school officials had recently warned him about two other students who were allegedly bullying Javits, and that the principal had suspended those students shortly before the shooting.
International cooperation
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa posted on X that Ghanaian officials in New York are coordinating with local authorities and that the foreign ministry “will work tirelessly with U.S. authorities to ensure justice is secured.”
Immigration policy context
The visa decision comes amid President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement agenda during his second term, which includes suspending visa processing for citizens of 75 countries. While the administration has faced criticism for its restrictive policies, the swift action to reunite a grieving family demonstrates a compassionate use of executive authority.
Local leaders and community members have praised the prompt response, viewing it as a humane gesture that aligns with the values of family and faith that many New Yorkers hold dear.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
