The border tsar of the United States, Tom homan, He assured that federal authorities will eventually stop and deport the Guatemalan Sebastián Zapetaaccused of burning a woman in a New York subway car last December.
Zapeta is currently being held at Rikers Island, but New York Sanctuary City policies prevent me from being delivered to immigration authorities.
Homan affirmed that the Immigration Control Service (ICE, in English) will not stop and that they will fulfill Trump’s promise to deport illegal criminals.
Zapeta was arrested on December 22, 2024 for the incendiary attack that caused the Debrina Kawam death57 years.
In an interview with Fox News, Homan insisted that Sebastián Zapeta-Calil will not get his own and that, despite New York’s refusal to cooperate with ICE, he will eventually be deported.
“Even if we have to sit outside that jail every day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we will catch it,” The American official promised.
“New York City, or any other sanctuary city, will not prevent the ICE from fulfilling the promise of President Trump to eradicate this country to all illegal criminal immigrants, to all illegal immigrants who represent a public threat and all illegal immigrants who represent a threat to national security,” he added.
“We will achieve it,” Homan emphasized.
Under the current status of the Sanctuary City, local order forces cannot cooperate with federal immigration authorities, which prevents ICE from keeping immigrants in custody.
The law also prohibits investigations on immigration status and prohibits sharing personal information with the federals unless a judge orders it, summarizes the New York Post.
Zapeta, with apparent problems of alcoholism and drug use, maintained his serious face a brief hearing at the beginning of January 2025, in which the judge read him the charges he faces and dictated that he remains in the prison of Rikers Island without bail.
Zapeta entered the Supreme Court of Kings County, in Brooklyn, with his hands tied behind his back and with the orange uniform that the inmates should dress.
After the incident that occurred on Sunday, December 22, 2024, Zapeta faces four positions, among these first degree murder for which, in case of being found guilty, he could face a maximum perpetual chain penalty.
The researchers affirm that, when questioned by the agents after the disturbing made, Zapeta expressed his regret and acknowledged that he appears in the images of videos recorded by witnesses, but did not remember what he was doing there, nor why.
“I didn’t want to do it. But, really, I don’t know. I don’t know what happened, but I regret – death – of that woman,” said the Guatemalan, according to his first statement he gave to the local police.
After the hearing, the judge decided to leave him in prison and will appear before a judge on March 12, 2025.