House Republicans are demanding an explanation from the National Park Service for its “unprecedented decision” to detain immigrants at Floyd Bennett Field, arguing it is leading to an alarming “increase in crime.” There is.
“This poses a substantial safety risk to park employees, area residents, and immigrants,” the House Natural Resources Committee and five New York Republicans wrote in a letter to National Park Service Director Charles Sams on Monday. will result from this plan.” The decision was made to lease land in the national park for migrant encampments, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Post.
Bruce Westerman, chairman of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, and Elise Stefanik, chairwoman of the New York State Republican Conference, responded to “extensive reports of crime in and around the migrant camp at Floyd Bennett Field.” These include domestic violence, assault, shoplifting, prostitution, and panhandling fraud.” their colleagues.
Approximately 2,000 immigrants held on Jamaica Bay shores are “not subject to basic background checks during immigration processing,” lawmakers said, while City Hall is on the federal government’s list of leases. Despite being registered, it said it had “contracted a private security company” to supervise the residents. The NYPD is the “primary organization responsible for law enforcement matters within its borders” and “obstructed” officers attempting to access the camp. ”
Lawmakers, including Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Long Island Reps. Anthony D’Esposito, Nick Larota, and Andrew Garbarino, said, “Floyd Bennett Field’s tenants, employees, and surrounding residents are immigrants. “I have a right to know whether I live with someone.” Past arrest history and/or convictions. ”
Other signatories include Oversight and Investigation Natural Resources Subcommittee Chairs Paul Gosar (Arizona) and Mike Collins (Georgia).
Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said on Sunday that the U.S. migrant crisis poses a “national security threat” and that approximately 1.5 million known migrants will be killed between President Biden’s inauguration and September 2023. It warned that human “fugitives” were evading arrest.
At least 140,000 “fugitives” have entered the country illegally since October 1, Owens said, adding that it “is what keeps me up at night.”
“Border security is an important part of our national security, and if we don’t know who’s coming into our country and what their intentions are, that’s a threat,” he said on CBS’ “Face The.” Told. “They are now exploiting vulnerabilities at their borders.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray also told Congress earlier this month that he was “very concerned” about “foreign collaborators.” [human] smuggling networks with ties to terrorist organizations like ISIS.”
In February, a Venezuelan immigrant was charged with murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley after illegally entering the United States in September 2022 and evading federal arrest for a previous felony in New York City. .
More than 7.2 million immigrants have been apprehended at the southern border since January 2021, more than the population of 36 states, according to Customs and Border Protection data. Many of them are awaiting immigration court hearings in cities across the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told Border Patrol officials in January that more than 85% of migrants encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border were subsequently released into the country.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has welcomed at least 64,500 immigrants into New York City, spending about $387 per immigrant household on feeding and housing them, and adding $10 billion to the city’s budget by next fiscal year. It can be costly.
The Department of the Interior leased Floyd Bennett Field to New York City on August 21, 2023, a move Gov. Cathy Hochul said she had lobbied the Biden administration for “months” for some He welcomed the support for land compensation. Installation cost.
The National Park Service previously prohibited its facilities from being used to protect immigrants. City Hall at one point entertained a friend of Adams by awarding him a contract to provide security for Floyd Bennett Field. Politico reportedbut later partnered with a Texas-based company.
Brooklyn’s tent shelters have outraged some locals, with one describing it as an “immigrant invasion” as migrants go door to door in neighborhoods begging for cash, food and clothing. ing.
In January, students at James Madison High School were removed from classrooms so migrants from Floyd Bennett Field could take shelter in the gymnasium on a night of high winds and rain.
That same month, Adams imposed curfews on several migrant tent sites to crack down on begging. At least one encampment on Randall Island experienced more serious drug dealing and one stabbing that month.
Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan national who is accused of killing Riley on February 22, also lived at a homeless shelter in the Big Apple for a time.
Lawmakers asked the National Park Service to turn over all documents and communications with New York City and the NYPD related to the Floyd Bennett Field lease by April 11.
The newspaper has reached out to the National Park Service and Adams’ office for comment.
