Under The Cover of Darkness

Republican candidate for Governor and former County Executive Rob Astorino, broke a story at a press conference at the County Airport this week stating that the Federal government is and has been shipping illegal aliens into Westchester County via the Westchester County airport under the cover of darkness. The Feds claim the flights are part of a national operation to reunite minors who had been separated from their families at the southern border. In total, it has been estimated that hundreds of iillegals have been flown into Westchester during late-night flights. If this were a legitimate action, the flights would be coming in during the daylight hours and every politician would be on the runway holding a press conference. The fact that they are doing this at night under the cover of darkness belies it's legitimacy.

“I’m now told the flights have been happening since April. Smaller then. Bigger now. 737s daily," Astorino said. “Being secretive makes it worse. I don’t blame the individuals, I blame the federal government for not fixing our broken immigration system and securing the southern border. And I blame our state and local elected officials for either not demanding answers for us or knowing the answers and not telling us or lying to us. We need answers.”

Westchester County Executive George Latimer excused it saying that the HHS operation was part of President Joe Biden’s Office of Refugee Resettlement operation, and not specific to Westchester, as his administration attempts to reunite children under the age of 18 with their families. Although, when you look at the photos you’d be hard pressed to find young children among the mostly adult-looking passengers.

Assemblyman Colin Schmitt (R-New Windsor) also issued a statement of his own condemning the flights while taking a shot at Democrat leaders.

“It has been confirmed that the Biden Administration has been sending flights carrying illegal aliens who were detained crossing our southern border to the Westchester County Airport,” he wrote in an email blast. “This occurred without notice to the public or county officials.

The illegals were taken from private flights and placed on buses. They were apparently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but it isn’t clear how many received the vaccine or not clear how many flights have come into Westchester. But, once on the buses, it’s unknown what communities they were transported to. Scary. We have previously reported that at the beginning stages of the Covid 19 pandemic that the County, vis-à-vis the County DSS and County Executive Latimer, housed 40 Covid positive homeless people into the Days Inn (formerly the Saw Mill River Motel) in Elmsford on Valley Avenue. They didn’t notify the Village, offer funds to assist with the daily ambulance transports to area hospitals for non-Covid related issues, such as an upset stomach, dizziness, general malaise, etc. These people know how to “game” the system to their advantage. For instance, they suddenly don’t feel well  at 10 - 11:00AM or at 4PM and get transported to the hospital in time for lunch or later for dinner. Want to stay longer? If they claim to be suicidal, they’ll be admitted for three days for “evaluation.” When they are finally discharged, the County is obligated to find them another room either in the same motel/hotel or another and transport them there, feed them, provide medical assistance if needed as well as clothing.

This clear abuse of power is an affront to to residents of Westchester County and Americans in general. Secure the border and stop this flow. Sending these detainees to be released in our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic represents a clear threat to the health and safety of our region. Our local representatives need to stand up for the safety and well-being of our residents! You can’t tell us in one breath to get vaccinated and wear a mask and then insert contaminated people into our communities. This must stop! It’s the only way we’ll get A Better Greenburgh.