Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-21) have called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to authorize the use of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. In a letter sent to Secretary Hegseth, the lawmakers highlighted the need for additional detention and deportation processing capacity in the Northeast.
Currently, the region relies on a single ICE-operated Service Processing Center in Batavia, New York. The facility is nearing capacity, creating challenges in handling the growing number of detainees, including high-priority cases involving individuals convicted of or charged with serious crimes. According to the letter, New York City alone has an estimated 759,218 undocumented residents, 58,000 of whom are either convicted felons or facing criminal charges.
“The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station could play a critical role in alleviating the strain on local detention centers and law enforcement,” the lawmakers stated. They emphasized that utilizing NFARS as a site for detainee housing and deportation flights would enhance national security efforts and expedite the deportation process.
Congressman Langworthy pointed to the growing need for such a facility following a recent briefing with Buffalo ICE officials. “The ICE Processing Center in Batavia is nearly at capacity,” he said. “With the illegal population accused and convicted of crimes in New York, opening the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will ensure ICE can continue executing President Trump’s orders swiftly.”
Congresswoman Tenney also underscored the importance of maximizing federal resources. “I am grateful to the ICE agents protecting our nation and addressing this crisis,” she said. “Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station can serve as a key resource to help secure our borders and uphold public safety by supporting ICE’s deportation efforts.”
Both lawmakers praised the ongoing collaboration between federal agencies under President Trump’s leadership, asserting that NFARS could play a vital role in reducing the burden on existing facilities while supporting national defense and security priorities.
The proposal now awaits consideration by the Department of Defense.
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