House Republicans are expressing concerns about the National Park Service’s decision to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field, citing an increase in crime in the area. The lawmakers warn of safety risks to park employees, surrounding residents, and the migrants themselves due to the decision to lease national park land for a migrant encampment. Reports of criminal activities such as domestic violence, assault, shoplifting, prostitution, and panhandling scams have raised alarm among the GOP members of the House Committee on Natural Resources and New York Republicans.
The lawmakers highlighted that the migrants at Floyd Bennett Field are not subject to basic background checks during intake and that a private security firm, rather than the NYPD as listed in the federal lease, is overseeing the occupants. Concerns were also raised about tenants, employees, and residents living with migrants who may have criminal records or convictions. Border Patrol chief Jason Owens has warned that the US migrant crisis poses a national security threat, with approximately 1.5 million known “gotaways” evading arrest since President Biden took office, with an additional 140,000 crossing illegally since October 1.
FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed concerns about overseas facilitators of human smuggling networks having ties to terror groups like ISIS. This comes after a Venezuelan migrant was charged with murder in Georgia after entering the US illegally and evading authorities for a previous felony charge. The US has apprehended over 7.2 million migrants at the southern border since January 2021, contributing to challenges in border security and potential threats to national security. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reported that more than 85% of migrants encountered at the US-Mexico border have been released into the country.
New York City has welcomed over 64,500 migrants, with the city spending significant resources to feed and shelter them, potentially costing the city’s budget billions of dollars. The Department of the Interior leased Floyd Bennett Field to the City of New York, a move supported by Governor Kathy Hochul after lobbying the Biden administration. The decision to use the field as a migrant shelter has sparked controversy and tension among residents in Brooklyn, with concerns about panhandling, drug dealing, and safety issues in the surrounding areas.
To address these concerns, Mayor Eric Adams imposed a curfew on some migrant tent sites and implemented measures to address issues such as panhandling. The lawmakers have requested the National Park Service to provide all documents and communications related to the lease of Floyd Bennett Field by a specified deadline. The situation at the migrant encampment at Floyd Bennett Field has raised questions about the management, oversight, and impact of housing migrants in national park lands. The National Park Service and Mayor Adams’ office have been asked to provide further information and responses to these concerns.
