Following a horrific incident where a migrant allegedly set a woman on fire in a New York City subway, Governor Kathy Hochul is facing intense backlash for a social media post touting improved subway safety. The post, which appeared just hours after the deadly attack, highlighted declining crime rates and increased ridership since the deployment of the National Guard earlier this year. This has drawn sharp criticism, with some labeling her comments as "tone-deaf" given the tragic circumstances.

Tom Homan, former Acting Director of ICE and incoming border czar for President-elect Trump, condemned Hochul's remarks on Fox & Friends, attributing the tragedy to sanctuary city policies and lax border enforcement. He pointed to the rising number of criminal aliens in the country due to what he calls the Biden administration's lenient immigration policies. Homan recently met with NYC Mayor Eric Adams to address concerns about migrant-related crime.

Hochul's post emphasized the positive impact of deploying 750 National Guard members to the subway system, claiming a decrease in crime and a surge in ridership. However, critics argue this overlooks the gravity of the recent attack and the ongoing safety concerns of subway riders. Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul's office for a response to the criticism but has yet to receive a reply.

Homan placed blame on the Biden administration's immigration policies, asserting that ICE's limited ability to apprehend illegal immigrants unless they have been convicted of serious crimes contributes to the problem. He argued that this lack of enforcement allows potentially dangerous individuals to remain at large.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, allegedly entered the U.S. illegally from Guatemala in 2018. He reportedly has no prior arrests in New York City but has one prior arrest in Arizona. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Zapeta allegedly approached a sleeping woman on a subway train at the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island and set her clothing on fire with a lighter. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

While acknowledging that any subway crime is unacceptable, Hochul commended the NYPD's swift response to the incident. Officers, alerted by smoke, discovered the burning woman and extinguished the flames with the help of an MTA employee. The suspect, found with a lighter, is currently in custody.