An illegal alien who has been charged with setting a woman on fire while she was sleeping on a New York City subway is being protected from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by state sanctuary laws. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national, is accused of setting Debrina Kawam, 57, on fire and killing her last year.

Zapeta-Calil has been charged with murder and arson following the December 22 incident at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station. After allegedly setting Kawam aflame, Zapeta-Calil reportedly fanned the blaze with a shirt to intensify it before observing the scene from a platform bench.

Due to New York City’s sanctuary city policies, the Department of Corrections has not honored an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for Zapeta-Calil.

ICE reports that Zapeta-Calil entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and was subsequently deported, but re-entered the country at an unspecified time. Before his arrest, he was residing in a Brooklyn shelter and working as a roofer.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has urged Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to suspend sanctuary protections immediately. Mayor Eric Adams has also called for collaboration between the NYPD and ICE, requesting federal prosecutors charge Zapeta-Calil in addition to state charges.

Zapeta-Calil has entered a plea of not guilty.

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

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