South Lake Today

Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, along with several Republican House colleagues, has written a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressing their opposition to the Biden Administration's decision to use airports as temporary shelters for illegal immigrants. The letter, signed by 65 Republican House members, highlights concerns about the misuse of America's airport infrastructure and the failure to address the true crisis at hand.

The members of Congress argue that airports were designed to facilitate commerce and transportation, not to serve as housing for unvetted and undocumented migrants. They request that public airport grant assurances be enforced and that the plans to house migrants at airports be rejected. The letter also points out that airports are generally required to obtain permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before using their facilities for nonaeronautical purposes.

In the letter, the Republicans state, "These provisions prevent governments, including the Federal Government, from abusing taxpayer investment in aeronautical facilities and commandeering them at below-market rates for nonaeronautical and incompatible purposes." They emphasize that it is Secretary Buttigieg's responsibility to direct the FAA to reject any attempts to use airport facilities for housing migrants.

The members of Congress have also posed several questions to Secretary Buttigieg, requesting answers by November 20, 2023. They want to know how many airports regulated by the FAA currently host temporary or permanent shelters for illegal immigrants or other persons. They also seek information on whether the FAA has received or granted any requests to use airport facilities for hosting migrant shelters since January 20, 2021. Additionally, they want to understand the extent of the consultation between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FAA regarding the appropriateness of housing migrants at airports.

The concerns raised in the letter reflect the Republican lawmakers' strong opposition to the Biden Administration's immigration policies. They believe that the government's failure to protect the border and implement effective policies compromises the security of the nation. The letter serves as a call for transparency and accountability in the use of airport facilities and demands answers from Secretary Buttigieg regarding the potential misuse of airports for housing illegal immigrants.

It remains to be seen how Secretary Buttigieg will respond to the letter and address the concerns raised by Congressman Webster and his colleagues.

To find out more, go to this link: https://webster.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0ADFD1B8-2C95-468F-86E9-FD86DD6D7B7C