NYC Authorities Refuse to Extradite Suspected Arsonist
Authorities in New York City are reportedly declining to extradite a Mexican man accused of an arson incident that resulted in four deaths, including that of a young child.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mentioned that they requested the New York City Department of Corrections (NYCDOC) to detain Roman Theron Ammatitla, 38, but their request was not honored. As a result, Ammatitla remains free in the city.
This week, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) reached out to NYCDOC regarding Ammatitla’s custody, but NYCDOC responded that they would not comply, allowing him to move around the city without restriction.
“This individual set buildings ablaze and watched as innocent lives, including that of a 3-year-old, were taken. Yet, the sanctuary city politicians in New York are failing to support ICE, opting instead to release a dangerous person back onto the streets,” commented Lauren Biss, acting assistant secretary of DHS.
Biss further emphasized:
Politicians in New York must prioritize public safety over political agendas. Letting this man go from custody would be reckless; he’s likely to reoffend and put more lives at risk. We urge Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani not to release this threat to the community.
Ammatitla is facing serious charges, including eight counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson, after the March 16 fire in Flushing that killed four individuals and injured seven more.
Reports suggest that Ammatitla entered and exited the building multiple times and was even seen urinating outside. He allegedly stole beer, matches, and a lighter from a nearby gas station before returning to the apartment and igniting the fire.
Footage of the incident shows the chaos as firefighters attempted to control the blaze.
Earlier, news outlets reported that DHS was witnessing an increase in requests to detain criminally illegal aliens in New York City, which identifies as a sanctuary city. In December, it was mentioned that there were over 7,000 identified criminal illegal aliens in the city.
Democratic Socialist Mayor Zoran Mamdani has committed to defending the rights of illegal immigrants in the city, even providing them with guidance on how to deal with ICE officials.
Additionally, reports indicate that Ammatitla did not flee the fire scene but instead observed the buildings burning while drinking beer nearby.
DHS has criticized Mamdani’s executive order, asserting that it protects criminals and gives them the opportunity to commit further offenses.
This development has raised significant concerns about public safety and the tensions surrounding immigration policies.
