Guatemalan migrant charged in NYC subway fire death was reportedly in US illegally
A 22-year-old Guatemalan migrant has been charged in connection with a fire that broke out on a New York City subway train, killing one person and injuring dozens others. The migrant, identified as Jose Alexander Alvarez, was arrested on Wednesday at a hospital in Brooklyn, where he was being treated for burns sustained in the blaze.
According to authorities, Alvarez was on the train at the time of the fire, which was sparked by a battery-powered e-scooter he was using to try to power his phone. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the train car and causing chaos among passengers.
Alvarez was reportedly in the United States illegally and had been previously deported from the country. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said they had arrested Alvarez in 2019 and had him deported back to Guatemala. However, it is unclear how he was able to re-enter the country.
The victim of the fire was identified as 45-year-old Daniel Ferdinand, a Brooklyn resident who was killed in the blaze. At least 30 others were injured, many of whom suffered serious burns.
Alvarez faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless endangerment in connection with the fire. He is being held at a hospital for treatment and is expected to be arraigned on Thursday.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of New York City’s subway system, which has seen a number of high-profile incidents in recent years. The fire has also highlighted the issue of illegal immigration and the challenges of enforcing immigration laws in the country.