Officials in New York City are refusing to honor an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for an illegal immigrant accused of setting a woman on fire in a subway car. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem slammed the city’s sanctuary policies, calling them dangerous and reckless.
Key Facts:
- Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is accused of setting Debrina Kawam on fire in a subway car in December, killing her.
- NYC officials will not honor an ICE detainer placed on Zapeta, citing sanctuary city policies.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the city’s decision “disgusting” and urged Gov. Hochul to suspend sanctuary protections.
- Video footage shows Zapeta watching as Kawam burned to death while others, including a police officer, failed to intervene.
- Zapeta was deported in 2018 but illegally re-entered the U.S. and was living in a NYC migrant shelter.
The Rest of The Story:
New York City’s refusal to cooperate with ICE means Zapeta will not be automatically turned over to federal authorities for deportation.
Instead, he will go through the city’s legal process, potentially allowing him to stay in the country even after committing a horrific crime.
Authorities say Zapeta and Kawam had no prior interaction before he used a lighter to set her on fire while she was sleeping.
Despite efforts by officers and a transit worker to extinguish the flames, Kawam died at the scene.
Her injuries were so severe that it took more than a week to identify her.
NEW: The man suspected of lighting a woman on fire on a New York City subway has been identified as Sebastian Zapeta.
The man apparently sat on a bench and watched his victim burn.
Police, who clearly had no clue what was going on, reportedly told the man who is believed to… pic.twitter.com/dxYibgfncJ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 22, 2024
ICE officials issued a detainer to ensure Zapeta would be transferred into federal custody, but under New York’s sanctuary city policies, the Department of Corrections has refused to comply.
This decision has sparked outrage, with Noem condemning local officials for prioritizing illegal immigrants over public safety.
Commentary:
This case is beyond disturbing—it’s outright criminal, and not just on the part of the murderer.
New York City officials are actively shielding a violent, illegal alien who committed an act so heinous it’s hard to comprehend.
Instead of ensuring justice, they’re allowing dangerous criminals to remain in the country.
Why should the citizens of New York—or any American city—accept policies that put them in harm’s way?
If Zapeta had been deported as he should have been, Debrina Kawam would be alive today.
Instead, she suffered an unimaginable death while local leaders stood by, unwilling to enforce the law.
Perhaps it’s time for federal authorities to hold sanctuary city officials accountable.
If a mayor or governor enacts policies that enable violent criminals to remain in the country, shouldn’t they be considered accessories to these crimes?
The suffering inflicted on Kawam is the direct result of the city’s refusal to cooperate with ICE.
The people responsible for these policies should face consequences, just as any accomplice to murder would.
New York politicians have blood on their hands, yet they continue to double down on these reckless policies.
If this case doesn’t force change, what will?
How many more innocent people need to die before city officials decide that protecting criminals isn’t worth the cost?
The Bottom Line:
New York City’s refusal to cooperate with ICE has allowed an illegal immigrant to stay in the U.S. long enough to commit an unspeakable crime.
Instead of protecting citizens, officials are shielding criminals under the guise of sanctuary policies.
If these laws remain in place, tragedies like this will continue to happen—while those responsible face no accountability.
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