The Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-prevention group, announced they are resuming subway patrols in New York following the tragic death of a woman who was burned alive by an illegal immigrant on a subway car last week.

“We’re now back to where we were when I started the group in 1979 on the subways. It’s gone full circle. I’ve never seen it this bad. Never,” Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, told The New York Post on Sunday.

🚨BREAKING: Guardian Angels Return in Force to NYC Subway

Due to the extreme lawlessness being displayed on the NYC subway, the Guardian Angels, originally founded in 1979 to combat crime, have returned in force to protect NYC citizens on the subway. pic.twitter.com/oFhnteLRfw

— Jay Anderson (@TheProjectUnity) December 30, 2024

Sliwa originally established the Guardian Angels to address a surge in violent crime, and now, 45 years later, he says the group’s presence is once again urgently needed.

“The need is here now once again,” Sliwa said. “We’re covering the actual trains from front to back, walking through the trains and making sure that everything is okay. We’re doing this constantly now. Starting today, that’s going to be our complete focus because the subways are out of control.”

The group’s decision follows the arrest of an illegal immigrant accused of setting a woman on fire in a subway car, leading to her death. Since the incident, Sliwa reported receiving numerous requests for the Guardian Angels’ services.

“We’re going to have to increase our numbers, increase the training, and increase our presence as we did back in 1979,” he added.

Starting immediately, 150 members of the Guardian Angels will patrol the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, where the fatal attack occurred. Their efforts will include providing wellness checks and water to homeless individuals and emotionally disturbed passengers while reporting safety concerns to the NYPD.

Sliwa hopes their presence will inspire New Yorkers to take action rather than remain passive in emergencies.

“There’s so many trains that come in and out of here,” Sliwa said. “It’s the perfect place because it reminds people that nobody did anything a week ago. Nobody intervened. Nobody pointed to the cops and said, ‘This is the guy.’ Even the cops didn’t do anything.”

He stressed the importance of involvement, saying, “It was an example of people just not getting involved. And we’re here to say, ‘You see something, you say something.’ You got to do something.”

The announcement comes shortly after New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 750 National Guard members and 250 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Police officers to patrol the subway system ahead of the holidays.

“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.”