The brutal killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train has sparked national outrage—and for good reason. Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who fled war and hardship in search of peace, was stabbed to death in broad daylight by a career criminal who should have never been on the streets. The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., had been arrested 14 times and released repeatedly under North Carolina’s lenient bail policies. His latest arrest came just months before the murder, and yet he walked free.
President Donald Trump has called for the death penalty in this case, labeling the killer an “animal” and calling for a swift trial. This is not just a call for justice for Zarutska—it’s a call to reverse a dangerous trend that has taken root in Democrat-run cities and states across the country. It’s also a reminder of what happens when weak-on-crime policies are allowed to flourish in the name of so-called “social justice.”
The deeper issue here is national security. America opened her doors to Zarutska after she escaped the war in Ukraine. She came here believing this country would offer safety and freedom. Instead, she was met with the same lawlessness she tried to escape. When our cities become unsafe for refugees, for immigrants, and for citizens alike, we lose something vital—our standing as a beacon of liberty and order in the world.
This tragedy also highlights a growing gap between federal law and local enforcement. While the Trump administration continues to press for stronger law enforcement and criminal accountability, local leaders in places like Charlotte have adopted policies that prioritize criminals over victims. Cashless bail, reduced sentencing, and activist judges have created an environment where violent repeat offenders face little consequence for their actions.
The judge who released Brown has a history of activism related to addiction and rehabilitation—admirable goals under the right circumstances, but deeply misplaced when dealing with hardened criminals. The question must be asked: how many innocent people have to die before we recognize that leniency for the sake of ideology is not compassion—it’s negligence?
This isn’t just about one city or one state. The same pattern is emerging in other parts of the country. Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco have all seen surges in violent crime after implementing similar policies. In each case, the victims are often the most vulnerable—immigrants, the elderly, and working-class Americans. And in each case, the perpetrators are all too familiar to local law enforcement but are allowed to walk free again and again.
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, now eyeing a Senate seat, has come under fire for enabling these policies during his time in office. Trump and his allies have pointed to Cooper’s record on criminal justice as a key liability, arguing that his soft-on-crime stance contributed directly to Zarutska’s death. Republican candidate Michael Whatley, backed by Trump, has vowed to take a tougher approach, promising that such failures will not be repeated.
At the national level, the Trump administration is working to restore strong law enforcement practices, including support for police departments, harsher penalties for violent offenders, and reforms to stop the revolving door of the justice system. But the federal government can only do so much if local jurisdictions refuse to cooperate.
This case must serve as a wake-up call. America cannot afford to let ideology override common sense when it comes to public safety. Every citizen—and every legal immigrant—deserves to feel safe on public transportation, in their neighborhoods, and in their homes. That safety is not a gift; it is the result of policy, enforcement, and the political will to protect innocent life.
Iryna Zarutska came to America believing it was a place of safety. Her death is a national disgrace, not just because of the crime itself, but because it was preventable. If we fail to act now, we risk many more lives—and the very fabric of our national security.