# Is Biden really flying in undocumented immigrants at night? {no, he isn't} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 17, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640 "2022-02-17T01:07:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/61 "2022-02-17T19:46:51Z")
I live in Trumplandia, and hear about all these things all day long. Though to be fair, this particular rumor is new to me. I just smile, nod, nod, nod, then say, “Your total today will be…” If they really want to engage, I lie and tell them that I am too busy running a business to really take much notice or interest in politics. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/62 "2022-02-17T20:01:03Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > I have heard from more than one person that **President Biden has been** secretly **flying in** entire planes full of **undocumented** , unvaccinated **persons and dropping them off under cover of night** for…some reason, not really clear. […] Is Biden secretly flooding the US with illegal immigrants? Next we can address the title question. Is Biden really flying in undocumented\* immigrants at night? **Yes** , but! apparently it happened under Trump as well (on a smaller scale, I’d wager), and the night aspect appears to be because of logistics rather than something more sinister. I should also point out that these would be flights from one part of the U.S. (Texas) to another part of the U.S. (such as Winchester County, NY or Jacksonville, FL) as mentioned by @FlikTheBlue. Here is [reporting by CNN from November](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/17/politics/desantis-florida-republicans-routine-migrant-flights-immigration/index.html): > The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provided a list revealing more than 70 flights believed to be organized by the federal government to transport migrants to Jacksonville between late April and early October. Most of the listed flights fall under the Health and Human Services Department, which is charged with the care of migrant children. Of the 47 flights that CNN was able to confirm through charter flight logs from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, only 15 landed in Jacksonville between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. The charter logs did not have information for 30 other flights included on the list. > > […] > > Many of the flights have originated in Texas, according to the source with knowledge of the flights, because HHS has two temporary emergency intake sites in the state – at Fort Bliss and Pecos – that opened earlier this year after a record number of unaccompanied children arrived at the US-Mexico border. The travel logistics from those sites can be more complicated, meaning that flights might land overnight at locations, like Jacksonville, the source said. > > It is common for flights to arrive at several airports during the daytime and sometimes at night. An Office of Refugee Resettlement contractor operates the flights, according to the source. > > A former senior Health and Human Services official who served under Trump told CNN these flights also occurred during the Trump administration and at times, similarly, landed at late hours of the night. ~Max \* Assuming undocumented means without a visa. I assume these people - mostly kids from what I’ve read - have some kind of paper trail from the federal government, since they are technically on parole and are supposed to have a date in immigration court. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/63 "2022-02-17T20:02:58Z")
I bet there are even illegal US-Americans in most countries of the world. Probably including Mexico, Germany, Spain and Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/64 "2022-02-17T20:16:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I bet there are even illegal US-Americans in most countries of the world. Probably including Mexico, Germany, Spain and Australia. Draft dodgers still in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/65 "2022-02-17T20:42:56Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > > [@turtlescanfly](#): > > > > … the people I hear repeating/spreading this rumor are die hard Trumpers who are my customers where i work ( one of which is literally my BIGGEST customer) so simply telling him he’s full of shit is a non starter. > > Tough situation. Just try to not engage and change the subject as fast as possible, right? Yep. _“…and you wanted it with your usual matte finish, correct?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/66 "2022-02-17T21:03:18Z")
With “illegal US-Americans” I meant hose who reside illegally where they are, I thought the draft dodgers were legally in Canada and would only have problems if they returned to the USA. Are they underground? Has there been no amnesty? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/67 "2022-02-17T21:10:18Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Draft dodgers still in Canada? I knew one American in my first year of University who got himself deported from Canada because he somehow buggered up his student visa. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/68 "2022-02-17T21:10:56Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I bet there are even illegal US-Americans in most countries of the world. Probably including Mexico, Germany, Spain and Australia. I don’t doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/69 "2022-02-17T21:23:34Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I thought the draft dodgers were legally in Canada I don’t know, thus part of the reason that’s a question. > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Has there been no amnesty? Carter granted amnesty in '77 but maybe some are still up there. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/70 "2022-02-17T21:32:19Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Carter granted amnesty in '77 but maybe some are still up there. There are plenty, actually. After Carter granted amnesty, some went back to the US. Many stayed, eventually becoming Canadian citizens. I’m in Canada, and I’ve known a few; hell, I was related to one. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/71 "2022-02-17T21:37:43Z")
No jokes? So, I can’t point out that Biden can’t fly? Ok then. > [@turtlescanfly](#): > > So, tell me the truth, I can take it. Is Biden secretly flooding the US with illegal immigrants? Flooding? No. Does ICE transport some undocumented immigrants to different locations in the US? Yes. Of course, they do…and they did this under previous administrations as well. Some of them are illegal adults going to ICE detention centers to be sorted out, often to be transported back to their own countries. Some are unaccompanied minors. I will point out, however, that Biden himself has never actually flown any undocumented immigrants either during the day or at night, so that is definitely false… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/72 "2022-02-17T22:44:46Z")
I had judged “flooding the US with illegal immigrants” to be a question entirely unrelated to flying undocumented immigrants at night. The Trump administration, with the Remain in Mexico policy and later the public health rule, released relatively few immigrants to the interior of the United States without a visa / refugee status / etc. Here are the number of ‘illegal’ immigrants apprehended at the Southwest border, released into the U.S. interior by the federal government, by month, for 2020 and 2021. This isn’t a secret though, it’s right there on the Custom & Border Patrol’s public website under stats, then for the appropriate fiscal year (cites: [FY2020](https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/custody-and-transfer-statistics-fy-2020), [FY2021](https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/custody-and-transfer-statistics-fy2021#), [FY2022](https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/custody-and-transfer-statistics)) expand Dispositions and Transfers, then look at the rows labelled either “Recognizance” or “Parole”. You could characterize these as “catch and release”. ### U.S. Border Patrol Southwest Border Apprehensions Released to the Interior on Recognizance or Parole (Pending Proceedings in Immigration Court) | Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2020 | 76 | 91 | 84 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 21 | 13 | 17 | | 2021 | 1,321 | 8,798 | 26,037 | 25,885 | 26,341 | 34,730 | 60,559 | 44,122 | 21,031 | 9,942 | 5,693 | 18,274 | I wish I could find the numbers for 2019 and especially 2018 when Trump had the whole migrant caravan thing going on. The drop from March to April of 2020 corresponds to the public health rule Mr. Trump issued due to the pandemic (widely reported at the time, eg: [NPR in March '20](https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818192563/trump-closes-u-s-borders-immigration-grinds-to-a-halt)), which is still in effect today. The very high numbers for most of 2021 coincide with a record number of illegal border crossings (widely reported, but I don’t remember it making the front page, eg: [New York Times article from October](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/us/politics/border-crossings-immigration-record-high.html)), the beginning of Mr. Biden’s presidency, and the end of the Remain in Mexico policy. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/73 "2022-02-17T22:51:29Z")
Yeah, I wasn’t sure how to do an accent mark in Discourse (did it have one in the movie? Can’t remember…) ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/74 "2022-02-18T00:59:09Z")
You really have to admire the total cluelessness here. Why did the government settle? Couldn’t be because they thought there was a significant chance that the result of going to trial wold be awards of more than $450,000? Nah, couldn’t be that! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/75 "2022-02-18T03:22:32Z")
Has anyone mentioned that, per Google maps, Westchester County Airport is a twelve mile drive from Trump National Golf Club Westchester? Does that explain why they have to land in the middle of the night? Remember that DJT’s felt he had to fire his undocumented workers when he was President. Now he’s obviously bringing them back. Two can play at this dumb game 😛 ---
**Author:** ![agzem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@agzem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agzem)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/76 "2022-02-18T13:22:33Z")
> **[Biden secretly flying underage migrants into NY in dead of night](https://nypost.com/2021/10/18/biden-secretly-flying-underage-migrants-into-ny-in-dead-of-night/)** > > Planeloads of immigrants are being flown into New York under the cover of darkness in an effort by Biden’s administration to quietly resettle them. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/77 "2022-02-18T13:52:49Z")
That’s a pretty shitty secret if the NY Post knows about it. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/78 "2022-02-18T14:07:43Z")
From the very end of that article: “This is similar to when HHS, under the Trump administration, housed almost 1,000 migrant children in Westchester — without the County’s prior knowledge or approval,” spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi said in a written statement. “Then, as opposed to now, there was no outcry by anyone.” The White House insisted Monday that the flights only carry children and teens, and the US Department of Health and Human Services said, “It is our legal responsibility to safely care for unaccompanied children until they can be swiftly unified with a parent or a vetted sponsor.” “Our Office of Refugee Resettlement facilitates travel for the children in its custody to their family or sponsors across the country,” HHS spokesman Jorge Silva said. “In recent weeks, unaccompanied children passed through the Westchester airport en route to their final destination to be unified with their parents or vetted sponsor.” So, another nothingburger used by the right to whip up outrage. It’s no secret and not against the law. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/79 "2022-02-18T14:56:32Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > So, another nothingburger used by the right to whip up outrage. What?? That’s not possible. I can’t believe it. I won’t believe it. I’m shocked to my very core. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640/80 "2022-02-18T21:06:35Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > I am seeking to fight ignorance and be more informed, not interested in spreading unsubstantiated rumors or stirring up trouble. Phew, glad to hear it… My go-to with sexist/racist/trumpists: _“Man, what’s the deal with Aaron Rodgers?”_ Packers gossip, being more important than politics or religion, works as a distraction all year long, especially near Wisconsin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-really-flying-in-undocumented-immigrants-at-night-no-he-isnt/959640.md?page=5)