The New York Post reports that a Senegalese man arrested this week for housing dozens of African immigrants illegally on two of his properties was also arrested in January for running a similar makeshift shelter. Ta.
Mr. Ebou Saar, 47, has apparently had several run-ins with the law in the past, but out of desperation he decided to stay at two properties in New York City, a furniture store and a former store in Queens. It was discovered that the government was charging immigrants $300 a month. A cell phone store in the Bronx – where they faced cramped living conditions. Video taken from inside the building in Queens shows rooms packed with bunk beds separated by narrow hallways.
Mr. Searle faced numerous violations due to the unsafe condition of the building, and both were evicted.
Photos of Ebou Saar (top left), the former Fordham Library where immigrants were staying (bottom left), and the inside of an illegal shelter in Queens (right). (Video screenshot obtained by Fox 5, Google Maps, and the New York Post)
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Citing court documents, the New York Post reported that Sarr was also arrested in January for running a third pop-up hostel in an abandoned library in the Bronx. The building, known as the Old Fordham Library, is located at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue, just off Coles Lane.
He told police he was cleaning out an old archive when they were walking into “our immigrant shelter,” according to court documents.
According to the criminal complaint, Sarr told police, “I run the business.” “I’m helping these people because they have nowhere to go. The shelters won’t accept us. I have proof of residency from the mayor…I’m on the street. I have a business over there, but this is where I live.”
He was charged with trespassing, the NYPD told FOX News Digital.
A panoramic view of the Queens building where Senegalese immigrants were being held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Approximately 74 migrants were found living in the basement, where the landlord reportedly collected $300 per migrant. (Paul Martinka of the New York Post)
Dozens of African immigrants are found crammed in the basement of a store, taking turns sleeping
Still, Searle is asking the city to allow migrants to use the building as a shelter since it is currently unused.
“You can put people in a place like that. Fix the place and put people in there,” Searle told the Post.
“It was vacant and I think it was a safe place for us to put people. We were trying to get the city to give us that library. It’s been there for years.” Sarr told The Post on Thursday.
Police also revealed to Fox News Digital that Mr. Sarr has been arrested several times in the past 10 years.
In 2020, he was arrested for allegedly pushing his wife, causing her to hit her head against a chair, and then attempting to strangle her. He also had previous arrests for driving a stolen vehicle without a license, possession of marijuana, and contempt for violating a protective order.
On Wednesday, city officials cleared a two-story commercial building operated by Searle on East Kingsbridge Road in Fordham, with 34 beds crammed on the first floor and 11 crammed in the basement. I discovered that.
Inside the Bronx building, inspectors also found extension cords, electric bicycles, space heaters and hot plates, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) told FOX 5. Lithium batteries have caused a record number of fires, injuries and deaths in New York City, according to the FDNY, which highlighted the dangerous nature of the facilities last year.
New York City police officers stand guard at the back entrance of a building where Senegalese immigrants were being held in Queens on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Some 74 migrants were reportedly found living in a basement where the landlord collected $300 per migrant. (Paul Martinka of the New York Post)
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The sweep comes just two days after it was revealed that a furniture building in Queens that Mr. Sarr owned had also been converted into a makeshift hostel, cramming at least 74 immigrants on the ground floor and in the basement. I was disappointed.
Searle told Fox 5 that most of the immigrants are from Senegal and he is providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to them.
Cellphone video from inside the building showed the African men in a bright white room filled with low-ceilinged beds. Beds are placed close together and walking space is limited. A single narrow lane runs through the room, with beds on either side. Another video showed a similar room filled with bunk beds.
