Migrants Found Sleeping in Airports Amid Border Crisis
As the Biden administration faced challenges at the border, reports emerged of foreign nationals sleeping on airport floors across the U.S. due to local shelters being overwhelmed.
In June 2024, more than 100 individuals were reportedly found camped at Boston Logan International Airport. Similar situations were noted at San Diego International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
A recent Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee report indicated that the Biden administration is actively involved in this issue. It suggests that multiple federal agencies have been instructed to identify airports as potential evacuation and processing sites for migrants. This directive particularly involves the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Department of Transportation and the FAA were reportedly tasked with investigating available facilities—including both federally and locally owned airports—to divert federal resources to manage the influx of new arrivals.
According to the report, at least 11 airports nationwide were under pressure to accommodate migrants within various airport facilities. This includes locations like Boston Logan, Chicago O’Hare, and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.
Massport, which oversees Logan Airport, noted that it had communicated to federal officials that the airport was “not designed or resourced” for handling migrant intake, warning of possible safety and security issues.
The committee’s report also recalled an incident in 2024 at JFK Airport, where an Ecuadorian national managed to bypass security and enter a restricted area before being apprehended by security personnel. He was found with a box cutter and scissors, raising further concerns about safety.
It appears that FAA officials acknowledged potential violations regarding federal approval when airports utilized their facilities to house migrants but often overlooked these issues.
The committee criticized the Biden administration for compromising airport safety, asserting that it has “reduced” aviation security standards by allowing unvetted foreign nationals to take refuge in airports.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that decisions to transfer undocumented migrants to airports without adequate identification, including those with criminal records, reflect the risks posed by the administration’s open border policies.
