New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that hundreds of National Guard troops have been deployed to patrol New York City's subways this holiday season.
Hochul acknowledged at a news conference Tuesday that 750 National Guard troops and 250 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) police officers were recently sent to guard New York City train stations.
“It's clear, as I've heard from many people, that the presence of the National Guard has not only brought about a physical change, but also a psychological change in how they feel about safety,” Hochul said. “People feel more at ease when they see someone in uniform, even in our National Guard.”
Hochul previously announced a five-point subway safety plan in March, during which he deployed 750 personnel. National Guard To assist the New York City Police Department (NYPD) with baggage screening at busy station entrances.
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New York Gov. Cathy Hochul announced Wednesday that hundreds of National Guard troops will be sent to patrol New York City's subways. (Getty Images)
“When I saw Spike [in crime]… We knew we had to stabilize quickly and make sure we didn’t end up on the wrong end again. ” Hochul said. There are people here today in uniform. ”
Hochul also emphasized the decline in subway crime during Wednesday's press conference. Democrats predicted in March that her plan would have a “deterrent effect.”
“This at least creates a deterrent effect for people who are thinking of bringing guns and knives onto the subway,” Hochul said at the time. “They might be thinking, 'I listened to the mayor, I listened to the governor, there are more people checking my bag, so it's not worth it. Maybe.”
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The New York City Police Department and National Guard conducted random bag searches on New York City subways in March. (Matthew McDermott, Fox News Digital)
The decision comes as New York City officials continue to combat violent crime in the Big Apple. In early December, a report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) found that there were 58,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions or charges in New York City alone. criminal charges.
Of the 58,626 criminal migrants, 1,153 are “suspected or known gang members,” the report added.
Hochul had previously been criticized for his move to add more National Guard troops to the subway. Fox News co-host Emily Compagno criticized the move as “too little, too late” on an episode of “Outnumbered.”
Several heavily armed New York National Guard soldiers patrol Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Gov. Cathy Hochul is deploying the National Guard to New York City subways to help police search passengers' bags for weapons. (AP Photo/Mary Altafer)
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“I remember when she sent the letter on her first day in office. [Manhattan] Attorney General Alvin Bragg said…when she said she was basically going to ship or shape out and then do nothing, he said, “If safety is really a priority for her, why rewind? , why don't we just rewind it?'' the “Outnumbered'' co-host argued. Would we go back and have her implement and enforce the policy at the time? Why didn't she fire him? And now we have to deploy the National Guard. ”
Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
