Luzerne Times

HARRISBURG – In an effort to address the issue of "ghost flights" into Pennsylvania, Rep. Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne) has announced that he will introduce a House resolution urging the federal government to review and strengthen immigration policy relating to these flights.

Cabell emphasized the need for collaboration between federal officials, state and local authorities, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that immigration policy is implemented in a safe and humane manner. He expressed concerns about the risks that ghost flights pose to both community safety and the well-being of the immigrants involved.

Ghost flights refer to untracked and unmonitored flights that carry undocumented immigrants into the United States. These flights undermine the efforts of immigrants who enter the country legally and abuse immigration laws. Moreover, they present significant challenges for immigration enforcement agencies at both federal and local levels and raise potential risks to public safety and national security.

Cabell highlighted a recent incident where a flight with 200 migrants on board was diverted to Philadelphia International due to weather conditions. The migrants were then transported by bus to their original destination in New York City. This example illustrates the problem that Cabell's resolution aims to address.

"The practice of ghost flights is simply unsustainable, and we need to urge our federal partners to reconsider this policy that, if unchecked, will create new humanitarian crises in our Commonwealth," said Cabell.

At present, Cabell is actively seeking co-sponsors for his resolution. The resolution seeks to prompt a review of immigration policy related to ghost flights and to strengthen measures to prevent their occurrence.

For media inquiries, please contact Andy Briggs at 717-260-6474 or via email at abriggs@pahousegop.com. More information about Rep. Mike Cabell can be found on his website RepCabell.com and Facebook page Facebook.com/RepMikeCabell.