New York Refuses to Turn Over Suspects to ICE, Including Man Charged in Fatal Arson

Federal authorities allege that New York City has refused to transfer numerous individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, including a suspect charged in a fatal arson case that resulted in four deaths. According to ICE, the city's Department of Correction has rebuffed requests to cooperate on detaining migrants who are facing criminal charges or have prior convictions.

One prominent case involves Roman Ceron Amatitla, a 38-year-old Mexican national accused of intentionally setting fire to an occupied building in Flushing, Queens, on March 16, 2026. The blaze claimed the lives of four people, including a 3-year-old girl. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described the incident as an "act of mass murder." Amatitla faces eight counts of second-degree murder and a first-degree arson charge, and is being held without bail.

DHS claims that the New York City Department of Correction declined an April request to cooperate with ICE concerning Amatitla’s potential release. Federal officials stated that New York authorities have rejected over 16,000 ICE detainers involving migrants accused or convicted of more than 52,000 offenses, encompassing charges like homicide, kidnapping, and sex offenses.

Beyond the arson suspect, federal officials identified 10 other individuals who were allegedly released by New York authorities despite ICE detainers being in place. These individuals include:

• Reivert Jose Urbina-Moreno: A Venezuelan national arrested in December 2024 by the NYPD for assault, robbery, and firearm charges. He was convicted of assault but subsequently released.

• Felix Alva-Nava: A Mexican national charged in March 2025 with second-degree robbery causing injury. He was convicted of assault but released despite an ICE request.

• Brandon Ayala: A Mexican national with a prior robbery conviction who was arrested for assault in June 2024.

• Merlin Jose Gonzalez Garcia: A Venezuelan national previously convicted of burglary and with prior arrests for theft, trespassing, resisting police, and drug offenses. He was arrested again in November 2025 on charges including grand larceny and burglary tools but was released despite an ICE detainer.

• Edward Clement Jr.: A St. Lucian national with a larceny conviction and previous arrests for robbery, vehicle theft, and fraud. He was charged in February 2026 with assault, unlawful imprisonment, and obstructing breathing but was released.

• Jose Orellana: A Honduran national with prior convictions for assault, burglary, larceny, vehicle theft, and illegal re-entry, among other offenses. He was arrested in April 2026 on theft-related charges but released despite ICE’s request.

• Yefri Julian Mejia-Martinez: A Honduran with prior arrests for burglary, larceny, drugs, and resisting police. He was charged in July 2026 with robbery and burglary causing injury but was released despite a detainer.

• Sergio Daniel Gutierrez: A Nicaraguan national with previous convictions for grand larceny, burglary, possession of stolen property, and disorderly conduct. He was arrested in August 2026 on a stolen property charge but released despite an ICE request.

• Wilson Heliodor Ortega Lizano: An Ecuadorian with prior arrests for assault, menacing, harassment, and theft. He was charged in July 2026 with assault and menacing with a weapon but was released.

• Dilverson Javier Ruiz Agreda: A Venezuelan national previously convicted of grand larceny and arrested for assault, stolen property, and drug offenses. He was charged with burglary in September 2025 and then released, despite an ICE detainer.