Several of Texas’ Republican congressmen are demanding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explain why and how illegal aliens are housed at airport facilities.
U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), along with 36 other House Republicans, sent a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker that demands answers regarding reports that airports under the authority of the FAA are being utilized to house illegal aliens.
The letter states that several of the nation’s busiest airports—including Boston Logan, Atlanta, and Chicago O’Hare—are hosting thousands of illegal aliens, which poses security risks.
“We are alarmed about the logistics and security implications of housing illegal immigrants within airport premises. Airports are intricately designed for the streamlined movement of passengers, baggage, and aircraft. Introducing a large illegal immigrant population to an airport will strain existing logistical frameworks,” reads the letter. “Security protocols, already stringent within airport environments, will also be challenged with accommodating individuals residing on-site for extended periods.”
They requested answers to the following list of questions in 30 days:
- Under what authority does the FAA have the power to use airports for housing purposes, especially considering the primary function of these facilities as transportation hubs?
- How does the FAA ensure the security and integrity of airport operations when hosting thousands of illegal immigrants?
- Can the FAA provide details regarding the specific areas or zones within the airports where the illegal immigrants are currently being housed?
In addition to the letter, Self also introduced the Airport Immigration Enforcement Act, which would prohibit the FAA administrator from the housing of illegal aliens within an airport. It would also prohibit the use of federal funds from being used to house illegal aliens on airport property.
“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,” said Self. “Democrats’ lawless open border policies have turned American cities, schools, and now airports into processing centers for illegal immigrants. These troubling practices cannot continue.”
Texas’ U.S. Reps. Brian Babin, Lance Gooden, Randy Weber, Kay Granger, Tony Gonzales, Roger Williams, Pete Sessions, and John Carter all signed onto the letter.
Meanwhile, another federal department is attempting to release thousands of illegal aliens into the U.S., potentially posing more security risks.
As previously reported by Texas Scorecard, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement is working on a plan to release more than 16,000 illegal aliens into the country after the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan border bill failed to pass. The legislation was supported by the Biden administration and would have erased a $700 million budget shortfall. However, the bill did not address Republicans’ concerns over the border crisis.
