In a recent interview, Alejandro Mayorkas, the beleaguered Secretary of Homeland Security, dismissed concerns over reports of nocturnal drone activity.
Mayorkas, who has the dubious distinction of being only the second cabinet official in U.S. history to face impeachment over his mishandling of the border crisis, assured Americans that the situation was under control.
According to The Daily Wire, the Secretary made these remarks during an appearance on ABC News This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The discussion centered around recent sightings of drones at night, particularly in New Jersey. "Theres no question that people are seeing drones," Mayorkas acknowledged. He went on to assure the public that the federal government had "deployed additional resources, personnel, technology, to assist the New Jersey State Police in addressing the drone sightings."
Mayorkas clarified that while some of the sightings were indeed drones, others were manned aircraft often mistaken for drones. He also noted the occurrence of duplicative reporting. However, he reiterated, "theres no question that drones are being sighted."
The Secretary attributed the increase in drone sightings to changes in Federal Aviation Administration rules last year, which now permit night-time drone flights. He called on Congress to empower state and local law enforcement agencies to "counter drone activity under federal supervision."
In response to calls from President-elect Donald Trump to shoot down the drones, Mayorkas emphasized the need for expanded law enforcement powers to "incapacitate those drones." He lamented the current limitations, stating, "We have certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security that can do that, and outside our department, but we need those authorities expanded as well."
Mayorkas denied any foreign involvement in the drone sightings in the northeast, asserting that the Department of Homeland Security, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was diligently investigating the matter. "Weve deployed personnel, technology, and if there is any reason for concern, if we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public accordingly," he stated.
The Secretary's reassurances, however, do little to quell concerns about the potential security risks posed by these drones. The question remains: are these measures sufficient to ensure the safety and security of the American public? Only time will tell.
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