Alejandro Mayorkas’ Department of Homeland Security will deploy drone detection systems in New Jersey and New York after weeks of drone sightings in the region.
Both Mayorkas and New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed the plans when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – who represents New York – made the request on Sunday.
Hochul wrote, “In response to my call for additional resources, our federal partners are deploying a drone detection system to New York.”
‘I’m grateful for the support, but we need more. “Congress must pass a law that gives us the power to deal directly with the drones,” she warned.
Mayorkas, who confirmed in an interview Sunday that the federal government does not have the authority to disable drones, said some form of help is on the way.
‘We understand why residents are concerned. In response to this and in close collaboration with the [New Jersey State Police] and other law enforcement agencies, [Homeland Security] quickly deployed staff and technology to support.”
He clarified that, despite many theories to the contrary, DHS has so far found no connection between the drones and any foreign government.
DHS is also assisting the FBI in their investigation into the drones.
Alejandro Mayorkas’ Department of Homeland Security to deploy drone detection systems in New Jersey and New York after weeks of drone sightings across the region
Mayorkas clarified that, despite many theories to the contrary, DHS has so far found no connection between the drones and any foreign government.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Schumer pleaded for help on Sunday, writing: “I urge answers amid these drone sightings. I call on @SecMayorkas to deploy special drone detection technology in New York and New Jersey.”
“And I’m working on a bill in the Senate to give local law enforcement more tools for drone detection,” Schumer added.
He was retweeted on X by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who himself wrote to the federal government on Friday asking for help.
Schumer wants the federal government to use a recently released radio wave technology in New York and New Jersey.
The radio wave detector can be attached to a drone or aircraft and can determine whether another flying object is a bird or a drone, read its electronic recording and track it back to the landing site.
Schumer said state and local authorities do not have the authority to track drones.
With officials unable to say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S. — or how to stop them — leaders from both political parties have begun demanding better action. technology and powers to handle the drones.
Both Mayorkas and New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed plans to use the detection system on Sunday
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – who represents New York – made the request on Sunday
“A lot of us are quite frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on Fox News Sunday.
‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer,” he said.
It comes after newly elected President Donald Trump suggested the unmanned aircraft would be shot down.
‘Mysterious drone sightings across the country. Can this really happen without the knowledge of our government,” Trump wrote on Friday amid outrage over the ongoing mystery.
‘I don’t think so! Let the public know, now. Otherwise, shoot them!!!’ the former and future president wrote on his social media site Truth Social.
Asked if this was possible, Mayorkas told ABC News on Sunday that his office should be given more authority to take more action.
“In terms of the ability to disable these drones, we are limited in our authorities,” Mayorkas told This Week host George Stephanopoulos.
“We have certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security that can do that, and outside of our department,” he added. ‘But we also need to expand those powers.’
With officials unable to say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S. — or how to stop them — leaders from both political parties have begun demanding better action. technology and powers to handle the drones
Officials in Monmouth County, where residents reported 63 sightings over the period, shared a heat map showing where the unmanned aircraft appears to be circulating
Monmouth County is home to the Naval Weapons Station Earle, a naval base. Experts have speculated that foreign powers could target areas like this, where intelligence and weapons bases are located. (Pictured: NJ landmarks where drones have been spotted overhead)
He revealed that more than 8,000 drones are flown every day in the US, including civilian and government, for both work and leisure activities.
Mayorkas claims that a new law allowing drones to fly at night in the US will likely lead to an increase in reports of these sightings.
So far, it appears officials have been caught off guard by the mysterious nationwide drone sightings and are working to identify them and address the problem.
Fears are growing over mysterious objects spotted flying through the skies in a number of US cities over the past month, particularly New Jersey, New York and Washington DC
As many as 964 incidents have been recorded in New Jersey since the first sighting on Nov. 19 through Dec. 13, according to statistics collected by the state’s Office of Emergency Management and shared with police. New York Post.
Officials in Monmouth County, where residents reported 63 sightings over the period, shared a heat map showing where the unmanned aircraft appears to be circulating.
Trump suggested on Truth Social that the government would shoot down mysterious drones
According to news reports, drones are now being reported all along the northern East Coast, with suspicious sightings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
They were spotted as far west as Los Angeles last weekend VOS11.
Their presence has caused both alarm and confusion, with the Pentagon criticized for its “lack of transparency” on the issue.
A bill before the U.S. Senate would expand the authority of some federal agencies and give local and state agencies new capabilities to track drones.
It would also launch a pilot program that would allow states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior permission from the operator.
“What the drone issue shows is gaps in our agencies, gaps in our authorities between the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement and the Department of Defense,” said Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., Trump’s choice orphan national security adviser, who spoke Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“Americans find it hard to believe that we can’t figure out where these come from.”