The FDNY inspecting a building in Queens discovered 87 illegal immigrants living in the basement.

Authorities transported them to a shelter in the Bronx. From PIX11:

The building’s owner, 47-year-old Ebou Sarr, told PIX11 News on Tuesday that he was charging migrants $300 a month to live in the building. He said most of the migrants are from Senegal, and that he was providing them with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sarr also said he’s looking at commercial properties to help them find a place to live.

“The city is saying that they have no place for these people,” Sarr said. “It’s not true.”

E-bikes parked nearby led to the inspection. A woman called 311 to report the numerous bikes. She told NBC New York the many bikes scared her “due to the recent fires that broke out due to defective lithium-ion batteries that garnered headlines.”

The FDNY ordered everyone to evacuate the building due to the unsafe conditions in the basement:

According to the Department of Buildings, when DOB inspectors arrived on scene, they “found that the first floor commercial space in the building and the cellar had been illegally converted into sleeping quarters, with 14 bunk beds and 13 bed tightly packed on both floors.” Additionally, inspectors found that plumbing work was done without permits and there was no means of exiting, ventilation or natural sunlight for the migrants living there.

Officials said the FDNY issued a full vacate order for the premises. The Department of Buildings also issued a vacate order due to unsafe conditions found at the basement, including overcrowding and fire hazards identified by the FDNY. The city’s Office of Emergency Management referred people in need of shelter for further assistance.

Over 80 people were taken to a migrant shelter after they were found living inside a basement in Queens, sources tell PIX11 News.

Read more: https://t.co/CnGKE2qEFT pic.twitter.com/xJa0OJOh6e

— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) February 27, 2024

City inspectors, #fdny find 40 migrants living in basement of Richmond Hill furniture store after complaints. Owner said he was only trying to help them get on their feet. ⁦@wcbs880⁩ ⁦@1010WINS⁩ pic.twitter.com/2jdTFx2HH7

— Marla Diamond (@MDiamond8) February 27, 2024

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