A Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania claimed that planes are landing in the state carrying illegal immigrants, which he argues threatens the local population. This is organized by the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden. The issue of immigration has been a significant topic in U.S. political discussions, especially since Biden's administration took office about a year ago, adopting a policy considerably different from that of his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Lou Barletta noted that a plane landed at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown last Thursday, with others arriving in Scranton a week prior, mentioning a total of four flights in this context. The Republican candidate shared photos of what he claimed were chartered planes, alleging that they took off from southern Texas near the Mexican border and arrived in Scranton on Christmas Day.
He accused President Biden's administration of jeopardizing the safety of Pennsylvania residents with these actions, stating, "The great secrecy and disregard for the residents of the state continue." However, the state's U.S. Congressman, Matt Cartwright, denied the Republican candidate's claims. He stated that the flights were part of a joint effort between the Department of Health and the Human Services Program that has been in operation for many years, overseen by successive U.S. administrations.
In media statements, he explained that these planes were transporting unaccompanied children from Central America, including Honduras and Guatemala. He mentioned that authorities had found vetted sponsors who would receive these children, indicating that the sponsors would sign a commitment to ensure the children attend their court hearings.
