The Biden Administration’s reported proposal to house New York asylum seekers at Atlantic City’s international airport drew a predictably furious response from Garden State Republicans on Wednesday and Thursday. With competitive legislative elections only weeks away, Joe Biden – already a drag on his fellow Democrats – may’ve unwittingly handed Republicans yet another viable campaign issue.
Arguably the most blunt assessments came from Atlantic City’s state and federal representatives.
“My message to President Biden and NYC Mayor Adams is ‘hell no!’ Atlantic County residents shouldn’t be forced to pay the price for the Biden Administration’s disastrous handling of our border and the outrageous ‘Sanctuary’ state and city policies of Democrats in Washington, New York, Trenton and across the country,” said state Senator Vince Polistina (R-2). “I call on Governor Murphy, and US Senators Booker and Menendez to join me in opposing this attempt to dump unvetted migrants at Atlantic City Airport—and spreading a humanitarian crisis they created to our backyard.”
“The Biden Administration is systematically destroying our country and this is just another step in that process,” said Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R, NJ-02). “It endangers our national security given the sensitive nature of the mission at both the FAA Technical Center and the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing which are located within the airport complex. If New York City can’t handle the flood of illegal immigrants pouring into our country then how the hell do they expect a community less than one percent its size to do so? I will continue to do everything in my power to fight this!”
But criticism wasn’t limited to the Jersey Shore or even South Jersey. GOP candidates all-over the state were registering this objections to the plan.
“We are outraged that the President’s failure to secure the Southern Border has now resulted in migrants being sent to New Jersey under Joe Biden’s new plan,” added Micheline Attieh, Barry Wilkes, and Gail Horton, Bergen-based Republican candidates in the 38th Legislative District. “Not only will hard-working New Jerseyans have to pick up the tab for the flood of migrants coming from Mayor Eric Adams’ sanctuary city, but we are also already bearing the brunt of a fentanyl epidemic that is ravaging our communities. We call on Governor Murphy, Senator Lagana, and Assemblymembers Swain and Tully to immediately reject this dangerous plan and put New Jerseyans – not radical policies – first.”
The Murphy Administration initially declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.
