We all remember pictures taken during the Biden administration of airports across the country jammed with migrants.
Republicans opened up a probe during the final year of Joe Biden’s term to investigate why this was happening.
A report has just been published on the matter, noting that Biden was forcing airports to house migrants, with some now saying he put national security at risk as a result of the mandate.
In February 2024, Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) announced that an investigation was being launched against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the housing of illegals at airports.
At the time, Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) headed the probe, stating, “America’s worst terror attack started at an airport -- so it is unconscionable that the FAA is allowing unvetted illegal immigrants, and potential terrorists, to be housed in U.S. airports.”
He added, “Democrats’ lawless open border policies have turned American cities, schools, and now airports into processing centers for illegal immigrants. These troubling practices cannot continue.”
During hearings on the matter, Rep. Perry questioned officials on whether the housing of these illegals at airports was impacting security and regular operations.
In March 2024, Republican senators announced that they were going to expand the probe via the Senate Commerce Committee.
A group of GOP lawmakers sent a letter to New York Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton, which, in part, stated, “Never before in the history of American aviation has the FAA had to approve the use of airport facilities to house illegal aliens. Yet under Democrat leadership of the White House and liberal cities and states, this is now our nation’s reality, with thousands of illegal aliens living in America’s airports.”
The letter continued, “It is a warped repurposing of America’s aviation system and is a direct consequence of the open border policies embraced by the far left and President Biden -- and something which is only being made worse by the lawless sanctuary policies of places like New York and NYC.”
I flew numerous times while this was happening, and from a traveler’s perspective, it was horrific. Bodies were everywhere, the terminals were jammed with people, and I won’t even go into the sanitary aspect of it. To put it mildly, it was not pleasant at all.
The Senate Commerce Committee has finally released its report on the matter, claiming that it was the Biden administration that was forcing this policy on “sanctuary” airports.
For instance, in one email, an FAA official wrote, “We have received a request from the WH to determine if there are available facilities on airport or surrounding areas… This is an immediate ask so please prioritize this effort.”
One staffer even realized that the optics on this were going to be terrible, responding, “Yikes, this is definitely Fox News fodder in the making.” That staffer was right because Fox News and other conservative outlets jumped all over this.
The findings go on to note that various security protocols were ignored, a fact which sometimes led to arrests over situations in which other travelers could have been put in harm’s way, such as one man being arrested for having a box cutter in his possession. This is a horrible look for Biden, who is already being accused of putting the needs of hardworking and law-abiding residents and citizens behind those of criminals and illegal immigrants. Even if Biden’s tenure had anything positive by which to remember it, I think this report will solidify him as one of the worst presidents in history (not exactly the legacy for which Biden has been hoping).
