The brazen Easter weekend theft of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse by two Chilean nationals—both reportedly in the U.S. illegally—has exposed glaring failures in sanctuary city policy, immigration enforcement, and international crime tracking. And this wasn’t just a petty theft: it was a breach of national security.
Illegal migrant accused of snatching Kristi Noem’s Gucci purse was free after similar crime in NYC last month https://t.co/LQfBiShzR0 pic.twitter.com/7N34iIhi3d
— New York Post (@nypost) April 28, 2025
The main suspect, 49-year-old Mario Bustamante-Leiva, was arrested in Washington, D.C., after allegedly stealing Noem’s bag as she dined with her family at Capital Burger. What makes this more than just another crime story is Bustamante-Leiva’s well-documented criminal history, stretching from Utah to Times Square to London—yet he remained free inside the U.S., shielded by lax immigration enforcement and protected under New York City’s sanctuary laws.
Bustamante-Leiva’s record includes:
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A 2021 shoplifting arrest in Utah
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A 2015 international theft spree in London, involving $28,000 worth of stolen electronics
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A March 2025 theft in Times Square, where he was accused of stealing a fanny pack and racking up $1,200 in credit card charges within 20 minutes
He was arrested by the NYPD and charged with fourth-degree felony grand larceny, but instead of being detained or reported to ICE, he was issued a desk appearance ticket and released. When he predictably skipped his court date, no alert was sent to federal authorities, because New York’s sanctuary laws prohibit cooperation with immigration enforcement.
Second illegal migrant accused in Kristi Noem’s purse snatching ID’d, was released into US despite being handed notice of ‘expedited removal’ https://t.co/yGgtuWfvJG pic.twitter.com/quXjt9AjOO
— New York Post (@nypost) April 28, 2025
In other words, this was a completely preventable crime—if local law enforcement had been allowed to do their job.
Bustamante-Leiva wasn’t acting alone. A second suspect, 51-year-old Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana, also from Chile, was arrested in Miami for his alleged role in the same incident. Both men are believed to be part of a broader South American theft ring that targets wealthy Americans and legal immigrants, often using sophisticated distraction and grab techniques.
According to Breitbart News, these rings have escalated their operations across the U.S., taking advantage of open-border policies and sanctuary city protections that allow criminal illegal aliens to evade accountability and re-offend across state lines.
.@RealTomHoman on @Sec_Noem: “She’s a game-changer … I read that me and Kristi Noem have differences? Me and Kristi Noem are attached at the hip … That illegal alien picked the wrong person to steal a purse from.” pic.twitter.com/E0U84FQHOT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 28, 2025
While the theft may sound routine, the contents of Secretary Noem’s purse were anything but:
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$3,000 in cash
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Her passport
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A Department of Homeland Security access card
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Her apartment key
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Medication
This wasn’t just a personal loss—it was a security risk. The theft of a DHS access card alone could have jeopardized classified operations or sensitive facilities. And yet, the suspects—despite being serial offenders—had not only entered the country illegally but remained here, protected.
“They picked the wrong person to steal a purse from,” said Tom Homan, former acting ICE director and Trump-era border czar. It’s a line delivered with righteous anger—because this incident encapsulates everything wrong with the system.
Bustamante-Leiva’s release by New York authorities despite an open warrant and a clear illegal immigration status demonstrates how sanctuary laws can directly endanger national security. Local officials were unable or unwilling to notify ICE—even as this man operated in broad daylight, under their noses.
The result? He had the freedom to strike again, this time against a sitting Cabinet member.
