Migrant Arrested in Fire Attack: Should NYC’s Sanctuary Policies Be Reconsidered?

The horrific crime involving a migrant should put an end to New York City’s sanctuary-city policies once and for all. This shocking act should be the final wake-up call that these misguided laws only fuel more danger and suffering. The crime itself is deeply disturbing, even by New York’s standards.

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, set a woman on fire while she was sleeping on a subway train at the Coney Island station. The worst part? He watched as she burned to death with no sign of remorse.

This horrific crime shows the kind of danger that sanctuary-city policies have brought to New York. These laws have turned the city into a haven for not only innocent migrants but also criminals—gang members, drug dealers, human traffickers, and even dangerous individuals like Zapeta-Calil, who committed such an unspeakable act.

So, why should sanctuary city rules be questioned in this case? It’s important to understand Zapeta-Calil’s background. He crossed the U.S. border illegally back in 2018 and was deported under the policies that the Trump administration enforced.

But instead of staying out of the country, he managed to re-enter and made his way to New York. The city’s sanctuary laws made it easy for him to settle here, as they provide migrants with taxpayer-funded resources like shelter and food while also shielding them from deportation—regardless of any criminal actions.

In fact, Zapeta-Calil lived in New York for over a year, and in 2023, he even received a transit summons, which shows a pattern of criminal behavior that’s all too common among individuals benefiting from sanctuary policies. His actions on that subway car are not just shocking; they are a direct result of policies that have made it easier for criminals to hide in plain sight without any fear of the consequences of their actions.

This tragedy calls for a serious reevaluation of these sanctuary laws. No progressive argument can reasonably defend or justify policies that block law enforcement from working with federal agencies like ICE to deport criminals.

The law, expanded under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, now requires a conviction before a migrant can be handed over to ICE, and even then, it only happens if ICE requests it. This rule has turned New York into a haven for criminals while innocent citizens are left to deal with the consequences. It’s clear that these policies, though designed with good intentions, have resulted in senseless violence and pain for the residents of New York.

What will it take for the city to change course? Mayor Eric Adams, along with the new NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, must work alongside the incoming federal border czar, Tom Homan, to ensure that criminal migrants are sent back to their home countries.

Additionally, President-elect Trump and Congress should take action by cutting off federal funding for cities with sanctuary laws like New York’s. These policies are doing more harm than good, and it’s time for a major shift in how migrants are treated, especially those with criminal backgrounds.

New Yorkers, regardless of political affiliation, need to speak up. It’s time for them to tell their representatives that the so-called humanitarian policies are costing lives. This tragic incident is proof that sanctuary laws have gone too far and need to be revised. If the city continues down this path, more innocent lives will be lost, and the streets will become even more dangerous. It’s a hard truth, but one that can no longer be ignored.

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