Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station may soon be deporting migrants, as the Donald Trump Administration in Washington, D.C. vows to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.
Congressman Nick Langworthy (R, NY-23) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R, NY-24) sent a joint-letter to the newly appointed Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, urging the Department of Defense open the airbase for ICE deportation operations.
"This follows my meeting last week with Buffalo ICE, and my trip around my district discussing all of the efforts to combat criminal illegal immigration," said Langworthy in an interview with WBEN. "One of the suggestions from Buffalo ICE is the lack of available detention space here, domestically."
As of right now, the federal government only has six migrant facilities across the country, with Batavia's facility covering all of the Northeastern U.S. Because there are over 700,000 undocumented migrants alone in New York City, including 58,000 with felonies or pending charges, Langworthy feels new facilities need to be established.
"With the expansive nature of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, they could have a combination of space to create detention facilities, as well as expand the mission of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to be a port where the deportations can take place from for the aircraft," Langworthy explained. "We have the runways, we have the ability, and this just makes sense. It's something that is a priority of ICE, as you're seeing the Department of Defense work directly with the different federal agencies involved. It's something that could certainly help expand the mission here in Western New York."
Congresswoman Tenney says it's important to maximize every resource that is available to effectively carry out President Trump's executive orders.
"I urge Secretary Hegseth to authorize Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to assist in securing our borders and upholding our nation's safety by allowing ICE to utilize this station in its fight against criminal illegal aliens that threaten the safety of our communities," stated Tenney in the letter. "Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station can play a vital role in the fight to protect our borders, and I look forward to working with Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem to make this a reality."