New York City’s subway system was the setting for a horrifying crime Sunday, as a woman was allegedly set on fire by a man identified as an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. The suspect, 33, has not been named but was confirmed to have been deported in 2018 under the Trump administration. He re-entered the United States under the Biden administration’s more relaxed border policies.
Reports indicate that the suspect entered the U.S. illegally for the first time in 2018 but was promptly deported. His return, enabled by current immigration policies, has brought him to New York City, where he resided in taxpayer-funded migrant shelters. Law enforcement sources described his criminal history as “largely clean,” aside from entering the country unlawfully.
The crime has shaken the city, with footage capturing the moment the woman was set ablaze. The video, which went viral, showed the woman on fire near the train car door while a law enforcement officer passed by without intervening. The suspect, seated nearby, appeared to observe the scene without remorse. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit.”
The same day, two other violent incidents on the subway resulted in stabbings, one of which was fatal. In Queens, a man was stabbed in the chest and later died, while another victim suffered a facial wound. These crimes have reignited public outcry over subway safety.
???? #BREAKING: The Trump administration previously DEPORTED the Guatemalan migrant who set a woman on fire, per NYP
But when he re-entered the country illegally under Biden, he was RELEASED into the interior
INFURIATING.
The kller was even living in an NYC migrant shelter, and… pic.twitter.com/lJgIPmbw4c
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 23, 2024
Despite these violent episodes, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement on social media celebrating her administration’s progress in reducing subway crime. “Since deploying the @NationalGuardNY to support @NYPDnews and @MTA safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up,” Hochul claimed on X. However, her timing was widely criticized, including by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), who called her post “tone-deaf” given the day’s events.
In March, I took action to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day.
Since deploying the @NationalGuardNY to support @NYPDnews and @MTA safety efforts and adding cameras to all subway cars, crime is going down, and ridership is going up. pic.twitter.com/T7uRxx9nIO
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 22, 2024
The suspect’s immigration status has added another dimension to the public debate, with critics pointing to the risks associated with lenient border policies. The Post reported that the man had stayed in various city-funded shelters, raising questions about resource allocation and public safety priorities.
While New York City has long been a sanctuary city, the challenges posed by increased migration and lax border enforcement have reached a boiling point. Critics argue that policies prioritizing leniency over law enforcement embolden dangerous individuals to enter the country illegally, with disastrous consequences for public safety.
Public safety remains a cornerstone of any thriving society. Incidents like this expose the vulnerabilities in both immigration policy and urban crime prevention, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and reform. Americans deserve effective solutions to safeguard their communities and prevent such tragedies.
