A twice-deported Honduran national accused of trying to storm the cockpit of a United Airlines flight after allegedly claiming he had a bomb previously received asylum after citing fears of transgender persecution, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News.

Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, 34, was granted asylum by an immigration judge after his third attempted illegal entry into the United States in 2019, according to DHS. The agency accused him of exploiting weaknesses in the asylum system.

An excerpt from his asylum application provided by DHS showed that Gomez-Alberto answered “Yes” when asked whether he feared harm or mistreatment if returned to his home country. His stated fears involved both private citizens and police.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

“I am also afraid that I will be killed — either by private citizens or the police — in both of these countries because I am transgender,” he allegedly wrote, according to the application excerpt released by DHS.

The asylum decision followed two previous deportations and another encounter with Border Patrol in 2019. DHS now points to the case as an example of an asylum system that the agency says allowed Gomez-Alberto to remain in the country.

“This criminal illegal alien attempted to storm the cockpit, hijack a plane, and claimed he had a bomb. Thanks to law enforcement, he is now behind bars,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.

“This twice-deported criminal illegal alien was allowed into our country because of a weak asylum system that allowed him to game the system,” Mullin added, directly blaming the asylum process that resulted in Gomez-Alberto receiving protection.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

Gomez-Alberto was arrested after United Airlines Flight 2174 landed in New Orleans on Nov. 9 following the alleged cockpit breach attempt. United Airlines confirmed that the flight landed safely after what the company described as a passenger disturbance.

He is being held without bond on charges of terrorizing, communicating false information of planned arson, and being a fugitive from justice, according to earlier reporting from Fox News Digital.

Emergency radio audio obtained and reported by Fox News Digital captured part of the authorities’ response to the incident. The recording described Gomez-Alberto’s location and referred to a breach at the back of the aircraft.

“We have him at the back door. The back door has been breached by him,” someone can be heard saying during the emergency radio call released after the incident.

DHS previously confirmed that Border Patrol apprehended Gomez-Alberto after he illegally entered the United States near El Indio, Texas, in September 2011. He was deported following that encounter.

Border Patrol apprehended him again after another illegal entry near Columbus, New Mexico, in October 2014, according to DHS. He was deported from the United States a second time following that encounter.

Agents arrested Gomez-Alberto again in 2019 after an attempted illegal entry near San Ysidro, California. ICE released him from custody in January 2020 under an immigration judge’s order while removal proceedings remained pending, DHS previously said.

DHS now says an immigration judge subsequently granted Gomez-Alberto asylum. ICE later lodged a detainer with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 10, requesting notification before he is released from local custody.

The Department of Justice and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Retired NYPD inspector Paul Mauro discussed the case and Gomez-Alberto’s immigration status during an appearance on “The Story.”

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.