NYC refuses ICE detainer for illegal alien accused of fatal arson that killed 4
FDNY responds to deadly arson fire in New York
A New York man has been charged with multiple murders for allegedly lighting a deadly apartment fire that killed four people and injured several others. (Peter Gerber)
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FIRST ON FOX: A Mexican illegal alien who randomly set fire to a New York City apartment building, killing four people and wounding seven others, may be released back onto the streets after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the city rejected a request to turn him over to immigration authorities.
Roman Ceron Amatitla, 38, of Maspeth, is charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson for allegedly setting fire to a randomly selected three-story Flushing building on March 16.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that on the day of the fire, Amatitla entered and exited the Avery Avenue building multiple times, urinated in front of the apartments and then went to a nearby gas station, where he bought a beer, stole a second one and bought a pack of matches after refusing to pay for the lighter.
Authorities allege the man then entered the apartment for the fourth and final time, set fire to a piece of paper and threw it into a trash can next to the stairwell.
There was a huge reaction near the fire that broke out in New York on March 16. (Peter Gerber)
DHS ANNOUNCED THAT THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF KILLING LOYOLA STUDENT WAS RELEASED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
As smoke engulfed the street, Katz said he stayed in the immediate area and watched people burn and jump out of windows while sipping beer, which he described as “an act of mass murder.”
On Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) requested that the New York City Department of Corrections (NYCDOC) not release Amatitla from prison.
But due to New York’s sanctuary policies, NYCDOC told ICE it would refuse to cooperate.
“This monster set a building on fire and watched innocent people, including a three-year-old child, burn to death. New York City’s sanctuary politicians refuse to cooperate with ICE and choose to release this MURDERER onto the streets of New York,” DHS deputy secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital.
Roman Ceron Amatitla is charged in connection with the deadly arson in New York City. (DHS)
A child is among the 4 people who died as a suspect of an arsonist who allegedly drank beer during the chaos.
“New York’s sanctimonious politicians must stop putting politics above public safety,” he continued. “Bringing this monster out of prison is insane and will allow him to commit more crimes and create more innocent victims. We call on Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani not to disclose this public safety threat.”
DHS claims New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s executive order protects illegal immigrants and “allows them to re-offend and create more innocent victims.”
At least four people died in a fire allegedly started deliberately in New York last month. (Peter Gerber)
Mamdani’s action follows Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed legislation that would ban local police departments from partnering and cooperating with ICE enforcement.
New York’s failure to honor ICE detainees resulted in the release of 6,947 illegal immigrants from Jan. 20 to Dec. 1, DHS said. These immigrants accounted for 29 murders, 2,509 assaults, 199 thefts, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drug crimes, 300 weapons crimes and 207 sexual assault crimes.
Roman Amatitla was seen being transported in handcuffs. (WNYW)
In addition, DHS said 7,113 illegal immigrants detained in the New York jurisdiction were in active custody for crimes that included 148 murders, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drug offenses, 152 weapons offenses and 260 sexual assaults during that time.
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DHS officials confirmed Amatitla was an illegal immigrant, but it is unclear where and when he entered the country.
