Controversy Erupts Over Biden’s Plan to House Immigrants in National Parks

White House Faces Backlash Over Decision to Accommodate Immigrants in National Parks

The Biden administration is facing backlash over its decision to accommodate immigrants in national parks, specifically the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York. Republican leaders in the House have initiated an investigation into the White House regarding the circumvention of environmental regulations in this plan.

Concerns About Environmental Impact and Legality

Bruce Westerman, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Paul Gosar, a congressman, expressed concerns about the disregard for environmental issues when leasing public property for immigrant housing. They argue that national parks should be excluded from the debate on immigration and immigration policies. They also pointed out that the leasing decision violated federal laws that the Department of the Interior (DOI) had previously opposed. Republican lawmakers raised a series of questions to Brenda Mallory, the chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, regarding the legality of the decision to accommodate immigrants at Floyd Bennett Field and the process that led to that decision.

Increase in Immigration at the Southern Border

As investigations into immigrant housing within national parks continue, there has been a significant increase in immigrants at the southern border. The Department of Homeland Security reported nearly 241,000 immigrants in October, the highest level recorded for that month. Since President Biden took office, over 8 million immigrants have crossed the US-Mexico border illegally. Republican members are demanding structural reforms for border security.