NYC Faces Backlash for Refusing ICE Detainer on Suspect in Fatal Subway Arson

Guatemalan national Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, accused of burning a woman alive, remains in local custody under New York's sanctuary policies.

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan national, is charged with murder and arson for allegedly setting Debrina Kawam on fire in a Brooklyn subway station in December 2024.
New York City officials declined to honor an ICE detainer for Zapeta-Calil, citing the city's sanctuary policies, which restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the crime scene and criticized New York's policies, urging Governor Kathy Hochul to suspend sanctuary protections through an executive order.
Zapeta-Calil had previously been deported in 2018 but re-entered the U.S. illegally and was living in a Brooklyn shelter at the time of the attack.
If convicted, Zapeta-Calil faces life in prison without parole; the attack has reignited debates over sanctuary city policies and their impact on public safety.