In a recent development, Kristi Noem, who served as President Trump's Secretary of Homeland Security, has voiced her disapproval of New York City's decision not to honor an ICE detainer for a migrant accused of a heinous crime.
The individual in question, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan national, is charged with setting a woman on fire while she slept on a subway train, resulting in her death. Despite the severity of the charges, New York City's sanctuary status means the Department of Corrections has no intention of complying with the federal detainer.
As reported by The New York Post, Noem expressed her outrage during a visit to the Stillwell Avenue subway station in Coney Island, the site of the alleged crime. "ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the NYC Department of Corrections to take this depraved alien into custody," she stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. S
he further criticized the city's stance, saying, "Because of current sanctuary city policy, the corrections department has indicated it will NOT honor the detainer." Noem did not mince words, calling the situation "disgusting" and accusing New York politicians of endangering their citizens. She urged Governor Kathy Hochul to take immediate action, stating, "Governor Hochul should impose an emergency suspension of sanctuary protection by executive order NOW."
Sanctuary cities, by definition, limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, often refusing to hold individuals for deportation proceedings. Zapeta-Calil, 33, is currently detained on charges of murder and arson for the brutal attack on 57-year-old Debrina Kawam.
The assault was so vicious that it left Kawam's body severely burned, complicating initial identification efforts by law enforcement. The case has reignited debates over sanctuary policies and their implications for public safety.
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