Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX-11) introduced the No FAMS at the Border Act to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from deploying Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) to the border unless Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas certifies to Congress there is a crisis at the Southern Border. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
Recently, FBI Director Christopher Wray said terrorism threats to the U.S. have hit a “whole new level” following the October 7th attacks in Israel. Given these heightened security threats, as well as the Biden Administration allowing unidentifiable illegal immigrants with de facto fake IDs to board airplanes and fly across the county, it is extremely concerning that flights are going unguarded. Hinson’s legislation is endorsed by the Air Marshal National Council (AMNC).
“The Biden Administration’s decision to divert an unprecedented number of Federal Air Marshals from their primary duty of ensuring the safety of Americans on commercial flights to perform administrative functions at the Southern Border is unjustifiable and has left a concerning void in our aviation security. There haven’t been this many flights unguarded by an air marshal since before 9/11. Instead of leaving Americans unprotected in the skies, Biden should enforce our current immigration laws to secure the border. Our bill will prevent Secretary Mayorkas from dodging accountability, perpetuating the border crisis, and making Americans less safe not only in their daily lives but on flights, too.” – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
“On behalf of Federal Air Marshals nationwide, the Air Marshal National Council strongly supports Rep. Hinson’s legislation to prohibit the ongoing deployment of Air Marshals to our border. It is time to put the American people we’re proud to protect and serve first, and get Air Marshals back in the air, especially during this time of increased threats to our homeland. We thank Rep. Hinson for her leadership and steadfast commitment to protecting the homeland and securing America’s borders, and we urge all Members of Congress to support this legislation.” – David Londo, President of the Air Marshal National Council
“The primary duty of Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) is to protect passengers aboard commercial aircraft—not process more illegal aliens into the country. The concerning trend of increased deployments of air marshals to the border since President Biden took office jeopardizes flight security. The President should enforce the laws already on the books to end the crisis at the border instead of diverting essential security officials away from their crucial roles. I am proud to work alongside on legislation with Rep. Ashley Hinson and Senator Ted Cruz to keep Americans safe in the sky.” – Congressman August Pfluger
“Americans have recently witnessed numerous high-profile security incidents in the sky, highlighting that TSA’s decision to take air marshals off flights and deploy them to the border may be putting the traveling public at risk. In a brazen act of hypocrisy, the Biden administration maintains that the border is secure, while it continues to reassign air marshals from protecting the skies to the southern border. I am grateful for Reps. Hinson and Pfluger for joining me in introducing this legislation that provides a simple answer to this looming problem—if Secretary Mayorkas wants to redirect these public servants to the border to help clean up their self-inflicted disaster—he must certify the existence of a border crisis to Congress.” – Senator Ted Cruz
