NYC man accused of setting fire outside immigration court charged with arson

Key Points:

• Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old Army veteran, was charged with federal arson for setting off fireworks and igniting a blaze outside New York City’s largest immigration court, targeting 26 Federal Plaza.
• Prosecutors stated Arrabaca planned the attack for months, brought weapons including axes and knives, and was willing to harm or kill people; he also made derogatory remarks about ICE and carried a sign protesting immigration enforcement.
• Arrabaca confessed to the attack and acknowledged the risks to the public and himself; he faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison if convicted and was ordered held in jail pending trial due to flight risk and danger to the public.
• His defense attorney highlighted possible underlying mental health issues and requested his release to a Veterans Affairs psychiatric hospital for evaluation, but the judge denied this, citing concerns about compliance with treatment.
• The attack caused minor injuries to two government employees and one immigrant, and a manifesto was found in Arrabaca’s possession, underscoring the seriousness of the incident at a controversial immigration enforcement site.