House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman criticized the Biden Administration's use of National Park Service lands for migrant camps. Westerman expressed his dissatisfaction with the National Park Service's absence in defending their decision to Congress and accused them of relying on the Biden administration for support. He emphasized Congress's duty to conduct oversight and voiced concerns about the potential negative impact of policy decisions on the national parks.
According to Westerman, the Biden administration's border policies have had far-reaching consequences. Since President Joe Biden assumed office, there have been over six million illegal border crossings into the United States. Westerman also highlighted the devastating fentanyl crisis and the increase in terrorism threats that have resulted from these policies.
Now, the Biden administration is facing criticism for permitting the construction of migrant camps on National Park Service lands. Westerman argued that this sets a precedent and suggests that President Biden's failing border policies could impact national parks across the country. He accused the administration of attempting to permanently alter some of America's most treasured lands.
One specific example of the impact of these policies is in New York City (NYC). NYC has seen over 100,000 migrants arriving since spring 2022, and city officials have sought to utilize the National Park Service Gateway National Recreation Area, specifically Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, as a location for accommodating migrants. Republican members of the committee visited the proposed site and noted its significance as a valuable resource for both NYC residents and visitors. Converting the Gateway National Recreation Area into a migrant camp could potentially disrupt the access that NYC residents have enjoyed for years.
The Committee's hearing on September 27 provided elected officials from the NYC area an opportunity to express their concerns, and committee members gained insight into the decision-making process behind this rapid and impactful choice. It is worth noting that the administration did not provide any witnesses to testify in defense of their decision to repurpose units of the National Park System for use as migrant camps.
