Overview

• Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an undocumented migrant from Guatemala, is accused of murdering Debrina Kawam by setting her on fire in a Coney Island subway car in December 2024.
• Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, visited the Stillwell Avenue subway station to draw attention to the case and criticized NYC's sanctuary policies.
• ICE issued a detainer for Zapeta-Calil, but New York City officials have stated they will not honor it due to the city's sanctuary city status.
• Zapeta-Calil had previously been deported in 2018 but re-entered the U.S. illegally and was living in a migrant shelter at the time of the attack.
• The attack, described by officials as unprovoked and depraved, left Kawam's body severely burned, making her identification take over a week.