Florida Republicans Ask DHS, Justice Department About Flights With Illegals Landing in Jacksonville

At the end of last week, Florida Republican U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Kat Cammack, Mario Diaz-Balart, Byron Donalds, Neal Dunn, Carlos Giménez, Brian Mast, John Rutherford, Maria Elvira Salazar, Greg Steube, Michael Waltz and Dan Webster sent a letter to U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting a full accounting of the administration’s actions following reports that more than 70 flights carrying illegal immigrants have secretly landed in Jacksonville, FL over the past six months.

Specifically, the lawmakers demanded to know “who is being transported, their immigration status, whether they have been tested for COVID-19 or have shown proof of vaccination, final destinations and any applicable security reviews performed. Information should also include when the transportation first took place, the number of migrants transported to date, as well as future planned or estimated travel, whether state, county or local government entities were alerted prior to arrival and any federal resources provided to assist with the migrants, and any follow-up actions, including whether a notice to appear was issued.”

The letter is below.

Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland:

We write with great concern over the reported transfer of migrants from our southern border into or through the State of Florida. Media accounts show that at least 70 flights that originated from border states have landed at Florida’s airports, without any information of who is on the flights and their final destination. This does not include ground transportation.

The crisis at our southern border has been well documented. However, the transfer of illegal immigrants into our communities has been done under the cover of night and with a veil of secrecy. Our constituents are naturally concerned about potentially dangerous individuals residing in their neighborhoods. The state, local law enforcement, and those elected to represent Floridians deserve to know what the federal government is doing, especially when it is a matter of public safety.

For these reasons, we request a full accounting of the administration’s actions on these chartered flights and ground transportation, including who is being transported, their immigration status, whether they have been tested for COVID-19 or have shown proof of vaccination, final destinations and any applicable security reviews performed. Information should also include when the transportation first took place, the number of migrants transported to date, as well as future planned or estimated travel, whether state, county or local government entities were alerted prior to arrival and any federal resources provided to assist with the migrants, and any follow-up actions, including whether a notice to appear was issued.

We request a full briefing of the aforementioned issue as soon as possible. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.