ATLANTIC CITY – Atlantic City International Airport is on a list of 11 federal locations that the Biden administration has suggested could be used to house migrants from the southern border.
According to an Aug. 30 Bloomberg News report, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sent a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams in response to pleas from Adams for federal assistance with the migrants crowded into New York City.
According to Adams, the city has run out of space after setting up over 200 makeshift shelters. Adams is also asking the president to grant temporary protection status, so migrants can work legally in local industries in need of employees.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has resisted calls for moving migrants to other areas of the state. She issued a statement, saying, “We cannot and will not force other parts of our state to shelter migrants.”
Hochul has also called for an emergency declaration that would free up federal funds for the crisis.
Using the Atlantic City Airport would bring the migrant crisis less than 20 miles from Great Egg Harbor Bay and the entry point to Cape May County.
Ironically, one proposed site for relocation of southern border migrants is Massena International Airport in remote St. Lawrence County on New York’s Canadian border. It is used as a U.S. Customs port of entry at the northern border.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) has condemned any attempt to move migrants into South Jersey, saying, “This is their (Biden administration) mess, they deal with it and leave South Jersey out of it.”
There has been no word so far from Gov. Phil Murphy.
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
