Insanity. It's a word that gets bandied about in the political world these days, nearly daily. Shocking story after shocking story, followed by insane responses and inane commentary. Ninety-nine percent of which comes from our friends on the left side of the aisle.
Insanity.
It's also usually pretty accurate. And it's how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has chosen to describe New York City's sanctuary policies after officials refused an ICE detainer for illegal alien Roman Ceron Amatitla.
Amatitla is a 38-year-old Mexican national illegal alien who has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson for randomly setting a fire in a Flushing, Queens apartment building that killed four people. Among the four who perished was a three-year-old child. The blaze also injured at least seven others.
DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis called the suspect a "monster." New York City officials, however, view him as someone needing "sanctuary."
New York City's sanctuary policies explicitly bar the Department of Correction from honoring ICE detainers unless the individual has already been convicted of certain serious crimes and ICE presents a judicial warrant.
In this case, despite ICE formally requesting that Amatitla be held for removal proceedings, NYCDOC officials cited those sanctuary rules and informed federal authorities they will not cooperate — meaning the illegal alien charged with mass murder by arson could be released back onto the streets once his local criminal case allows.
Insanity.
SANCTUARY SHIELD: DHS says blue city refusing to turn over illegal alien accused of arson that killed 4, injured several others to ICE, and it could lead to the suspect's release. https://t.co/5qLCtOfEqV
— Fox News US (@FoxUSNews) April 17, 2026
READ MORE: Mamdani Hammered for Statement on Infant Shot and Killed in His NYC: ‘Should Be Ashamed’
"This monster set fire to a building and watched as innocent people, including a three-year-old, burned to death," Bis fired back in a statement to Fox News Digital. "New York City sanctuary politicians REFUSE to cooperate with ICE and are choosing to RELEASE this MURDERER onto New York streets."
A New York Times report at the time of the fire is heartbreaking to read. The victims are described as a 51-year-old man, a 61-year-old man, a 62-year-old woman, and a three-year-old girl.
"Three people tried to escape the fire by jumping out windows on the upper floors of the three-story brick building," they write, adding that "emergency medical workers performed C.P.R. on victims in the street."
Two firefighters were injured when a staircase collapsed as they attempted to rescue people and put out the flames. One of the people injured was done so "critically."
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz claims that Amatitla, as reported by Fox, "stayed in the immediate area to watch people burn and jump from the windows while sipping his beer."
Even though Amatitla stands accused of an act of mass murder, the city’s rules mean he could walk free once his local criminal proceedings conclude or if he makes bail. There is no obligation for officials to notify or hand him over to federal immigration authorities.
This is the predictable, deadly result of sanctuary city politics that prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. DHS is now calling on New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and Mayor Zohran Mamdani (Communist) to intervene.
"New York’s sanctuary politicians must stop putting politics above public safety," Bis continued. "Releasing this monster from jail is insanity and will allow him to commit more crimes and create more innocent victims. We are calling on Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani to not release this public safety threat."
Instead of protecting their own residents from a mass murderer, city leaders continue putting ideology first. To them, “sanctuary” for criminals—even murderers—comes at the expense of innocent New Yorkers. And that actually makes sense to them.
Just ... insanity.
Editor’s Note: New York City is now facing the consequences of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist takeover.
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