Trump to grant visa for mother of slain Bronx teen

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Saturday that President Donald Trump has agreed to grant a visa to the mother of a 15-year-old immigrant killed in the Bronx. The teen, Javits Frimpong, died from a gunshot wound sustained on his way to school on Thursday.

Mamdani shared the update on the social media platform X, stating that he spoke directly with the president. The White House did not immediately confirm the decision in response to an Associated Press email, but the mayor said the visa would be issued immediately.

Frimpong, 15, was shot in the abdomen shortly before 9:30 a.m. Thursday in a Bronx neighborhood. New York City police reported that he was on his way to school when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at a hospital later that day. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

Frimpong arrived in the Bronx from Ghana a year ago to live with his father, Thomas Frimpong. U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat representing the Bronx, noted that the boy had moved to the United States to begin a new life. Torres described the loss as a tragedy for the entire borough.

“Every child in the Bronx deserves to walk to school without fearing for their life,” Torres wrote on X. He added that no parent should have to endure what Thomas Frimpong is currently facing.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said officials in New York are coordinating with local authorities. The foreign ministry stated it will work with U.S. agencies to ensure justice is secured for the victim.

The visa decision comes as the administration maintains a strict immigration policy during Trump’s second term. The White House has suspended the processing of visas for 75 countries, including Ghana, in recent months.