A fierce exchange between former President-elect Donald Trump's border czar and New York Governor Kathy Hochul erupts over subway safety following a horrific incident in Brooklyn.
According to the New York Post, Tom Homan harshly criticized Governor Hochul for boasting about improved subway safety on social media shortly after an illegal immigrant allegedly set a sleeping passenger on fire in a subway car.
The controversy stems from the arrest of Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2018 but later re-entered the United States illegally. The suspect is accused of committing what Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit" at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station.
Homan, speaking on "Fox & Friends" Monday morning, delivered a scathing critique of Hochul's administration. He specifically targeted the governor's support of sanctuary laws and her welcoming stance toward undocumented immigrants. The timing of Hochul's social media post, which celebrated decreased crime rates in the subway system, drew particular criticism given its proximity to the tragic incident.
The suspect's history reveals a complex immigration timeline. After his initial illegal entry and deportation from Arizona in 2018, Zapeta-Calil managed to re-enter the country and eventually made his way to New York City. Sources indicate he had been staying at a taxpayer-funded shelter in a converted Days Inn hotel on 36th Street as recently as April.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating:
This gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman will be met with the most serious consequences. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe on our subways, and we will do everything in our power to ensure accountability in this case.
Police Commissioner Tisch provided chilling details about the attack's execution. According to surveillance footage, the suspect approached the victim while she was seated at the end of a subway car. Using what investigators believe was a lighter, he allegedly set her clothes ablaze, resulting in fatal injuries.
The incident was captured on MTA surveillance cameras, showing the suspect apparently fanning the flames with a T-shirt while watching the victim burn. The footage reveals him standing nearby with his hands in his hoodie pockets as the tragic events unfolded.
Law enforcement sources indicate that Zapeta-Calil had no previous criminal history on record. However, the circumstances surrounding his presence in New York City and his access to city services have raised questions about the effectiveness of current immigration policies and their impact on public safety.
The devastating incident has amplified concerns about the intersection of immigration policy and public safety in New York. Homan, who recently met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to discuss migration issues, frames this tragedy as part of a larger pattern related to sanctuary city policies.
The suspect now faces serious charges, including murder and arson. The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing both transit safety and immigration enforcement in one of the world's largest metropolitan areas.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about the effectiveness of current safety measures and immigration policies in New York City. Governor Hochul's office has yet to respond to the criticism of their social media post, which highlighted increased camera installations and National Guard deployment as key safety improvements.
The fatal subway attack in Brooklyn has exposed deep divisions over New York's approach to both transit safety and immigration policy. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, who allegedly killed a sleeping passenger by setting her on fire, had previously been deported but managed to return and access city services before the incident. The case has intensified the debate between city officials promoting safety improvements and critics like Tom Homan, who argue that sanctuary policies compromise public security.
