HARRISBURG – Following the confirmed reports of a Health and Human Services (HHS) chartered plane carrying over 100 illegal immigrants into Scranton, Senator Doug Mastriano (PA-33) is calling for an immediate halt to any further flights arriving at PA airports.
Governor Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro had been silent about the flights until the story became public. Wolf stated that Scranton was a mere transfer point for the passengers but did not specify the destinations of where they were headed and if those destinations would be in Pennsylvania.
Similarly, another HHS chartered flight dropped off passengers in Erie earlier this year. Like Scranton, the General Assembly had zero heads-up on the details of that flight either.
“It is only thanks to a whistleblower that we even know about the flights to Scranton,” said Mastriano. “How many more flights have landed in PA towns in the middle of the night? How many buses have arrived at bus stations? Have they been vetted? Have they been medically screened for Covid? Where will they live? Where will they work? Who will cover the added costs for the community and increases in taxes resulting from this?”
Earlier in the week, Senator Mastriano sent a letter to Governor Wolf pressing for answers and demanding a halt to any future flights.
CONTACT: Josh Herman (jherman@pasen.gov)