A recently released Senate report paints a disturbing picture of alleged pressure from the Biden administration on U.S. airports to accommodate migrants, despite internal warnings about potential safety and security risks to travelers.
The 47-page document details how the White House allegedly directed multiple federal agencies – including the Department of Transportation, FAA, and FMCSA – to identify and utilize airport facilities as shelters or processing centers for arriving migrants.
Internal communications reveal a sense of alarm within the agencies. One FAA official urgently requested Massport assess available facilities, acknowledging the request came directly from the White House. Another DOT staffer bluntly predicted the situation would become a major political issue.
At least eleven airports, including major hubs like Boston Logan, Chicago O’Hare, and New York’s JFK, were reportedly asked or pressured to house migrants within their terminals, hangars, and other buildings.
The report alleges that standard federal approval processes, typically required for such use of airport facilities, were frequently bypassed. Officials seemingly ignored established grant-assurance rules in their efforts to accommodate the administration’s request.
Massport explicitly warned federal officials that their facilities were not equipped to handle migrant intake, predicting “unintended safety and security consequences.” Despite this caution, Boston Logan reportedly housed up to 352 migrants overnight, incurring $779,000 in related expenses.
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport saw even larger numbers, sheltering as many as 900 migrants in a shuttle terminal. During this period, police responded to 329 service calls, resulting in 26 arrests related to thefts, disorderly conduct, and even a death investigation.
A particularly alarming incident at JFK Airport involved Kleber Loor-Ponce, an individual from Ecuador who breached security and entered a secure area near the runways. He was apprehended carrying a box cutter and scissors, raising serious questions about vetting procedures.
The alleged directives extended beyond airports, with the FMCSA tasked with creating informational pamphlets for migrant bus passengers and coordinating with states tracking migrant transportation. The FTA also reportedly encouraged transit agencies to utilize federal grants for migrant relocation.
The Senate committee concluded that these actions represented a “dangerous diversion” of federal transportation resources, prioritizing migrant support over established safety protocols.
The report asserts that the Biden-Harris administration compromised airport security by allowing unvetted individuals to shelter within facilities and potentially travel throughout the country, even diverting air marshals from their primary duties.
The findings suggest a deliberate effort to utilize government agencies to support the administration’s border policies, potentially at the expense of public safety and security.
