Gov. Hochul deploys 250 more National Guard members to NYC subways for holiday security

NEW YORK CITY - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that she is deploying an additional 250 National Guard members to patrol the New York City subway system during the holiday season. 

At a news conference on Tuesday, Hochul confirmed that 750 National Guard members and 250 members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Police were recently sent to guard New York City train stations. 

"It's clear to me, as I've heard from many people, that the presence of the National Guard has made not just a physical difference, but a psychological difference in how they feel about safety," Hochul said. "When people see a person in uniform… even our National Guard, they feel more secure."

Hochul also announced that the MTA has installed 15,396 security cameras which are now included in 100% of all subway cars.

Back in March, Hochul announced a five-point plan to address crime on the subway, including a legislative proposal to ban people from trains for three years if they are convicted of assaulting a subway passenger.

"Subway crime is down 10% since we sent @NationalGuardNY members into the system to help keep New Yorkers safe.," Hochul said in a post on X.

Since January 2021, subway crime is down a total of 42% while ridership in the system has increased 148%, according to Hochul.

The decision comes as New York City officials continue to fight violent crime in the Big Apple. Earlier in December, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report found that, in New York City alone, there are 58,000 illegal migrants who are convicted of or facing criminal charges.

Of the 58,626 criminal migrants, 1,153 are "suspected or known gang members," the report added.

"Earlier this year, I promised to make our subways safer for the millions of people who take the trains each day, and today we are continuing our efforts by putting more National Guard members on the ground and installing security cameras on every car," Governor Hochul said. "By working hand-in-hand with the MTA and New York City, we are deterring crime, making it safer for all riders and restoring public confidence in the system."