During a congressional hearing on Thursday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul struggled to recall the specifics of several high-profile cases involving illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes in her home state.
During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, emphasized how Hochul extended an executive order, “a continuation of your predecessor’s sanctuary state policies,” three times, the most recent on Jan. 16, 2025. Hochul’s predecessor was former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is now running for mayor of New York City.
According to the order, state officers and employees may not disclose information to federal immigration authorities “for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement.”
In addition, it states that police officers “may not use resources, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting and apprehending any individual suspected or wanted for violating a civil immigration office.”
According to the policy, law enforcement officers “have no authority in the State of New York to take any policy action, solely because the person is an undocumented alien.”
Stefanik, who is considering a gubernatorial run, then questioned Hochul about several recent high-profile cases in New York, but the Democratic governor remained silent.
Hochul didn’t recognize Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala accused of setting fire to a sleeping woman on a New York City subway in December 2024.
The victim, Debrina Kawam, 57, was reportedly homeless. Zapeta-Calil was reportedly deported in 2018 and illegally re-entered the United States.
“Do you know who Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is?” Stefanik questioned Hochul.
Hochul replied, “I am confident you will tell me. “There are many cases…”
“These are high-profile cases,” Stefanik added. “New Yorkers know about them, but you don’t. So let us talk about Sebastian Zapeta-Calil. Do you know who that is?
“I don’t have the specific details at my disposal, no,” Hochul answered.
Stefanik went on, “Well, this is an illegal migrant in New York because of your sanctuary state policies.” Do you know the crime he committed?”
“I’m not familiar at this moment,” Hochul admitted.
Stefanik replied, “I bet you’ll remember when I remind you. “He discovered a sleeping woman on the subway, set her on fire, and burned her alive.”
“This is Kathy Hochul’s New York,” Stefanik explained. “And as I’m sure you are aware, and I’ll remind you, that ICE issued an order to detain this violent criminal, but that was rejected by New York officials due to sanctuary state laws.”
The governor also failed to recall Sakir Akkan. The 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Turkey admitted to forcing a 15-year-old girl into his car in Albany, New York, and raping her in May 2024.
The case sparked debate because local officials reportedly gave contradictory statements about whether Akkan’s immigration status influenced their decision not to notify the public of the rape and subsequent arrest, according to the Albany Times Union.
Do you know who Sakir Akkan is? You should be the governor of New York State. “Do you know?” Stefanik pressed, and Hochul tried to deflect several times.
“Refresh my memory,” Hochul stated.
“He was an illegal migrant in New York,” Stefanik responded. “And do you know what crime he committed in addition to being here illegally?”
“No, I do not,” Hochul replied.
“Do you not? “This was widely reported,” Stefanik stated. “He found a 15-year-old girl, threatened her with a metal pole, and told her to sit in the backseat of his car. He removed her clothes and violently raped her in Albany, New York.”
When Stefanik specifically asked if she recalled Raymond Rojas Basilio, the governor attempted to deflect and speak more broadly about state policies.
The previously removed Mexican national was convicted of molesting a victim under the age of 11. ICE apprehended the 36-year-old fugitive outside his Queens home in December.
“He is an illegal who molested an 11-year-old in our state because, again, of your sanctuary state policies,” Stefanik told reporters. “This illegal was shielded from federal immigration enforcement and able to commit this heinous crime.”
Stefanik pressed Hochul again on whether she knew who Wilson Castillo Diaz was, but the governor said, “I’m telling you this, we do fully cooperate with ICE in criminal prosecutions.”
The congresswoman responded, “You’re not advocating on behalf of these victims.”
In October 2024, police in Nassau County, New York, arrested Castillo Diaz, another illegal immigrant, on charges of raping a 5-year-old girl.
“You are shielding illegals,” Stefanik told Hochul. “That is rapes of young girls, beatings of NYPD cops by illegals who are here because of Kathy Hochul’s failed policies, and burning New Yorkers alive.”
This is Kathy Hochul’s New York. It’s just one of the many reasons you’re losing support from hardworking New York families.
The governor described those as “horrific crimes,” but Stefanik intervened.
“They’re horrific crimes that are committed on your watch,” Stefanik told the crowd. “You will sign this executive order on your first day in office.
You sign it several times in January. We deserve a governor who advocates for law-abiding New Yorkers and prioritizes New Yorkers over illegals.”
Hochul stated that the state works with federal law enforcement on criminal cases and that Stefanik’s “representation of the facts is absolutely false.”
