Mayorkas blames drone uproar on recent FAA flight-rule change: We know of no foreign involvement

Department of Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday continued to dismiss the flood of drones across New Jersey, this time saying it is likely just the result of relaxed rules on the devices.Mayorkas seemingly downplayed the mounting concerns of residents including former Gov.Chris Christie — who reported some recently flying over his house — and again claimed there is no evidence of foreign involvement in the aeronautical phenomenon.“There’s no question that people are seeing drones.

And I want to assure the American public that we, in the federal government, have deployed additional resources, personnel, technology, to assist the New Jersey State Police in addressing the drone sightings,” Mayorkas told ABC News’ “This Week.” “Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones.Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones.

And we do see duplicative reporting.”But Mayorkas explained that in September 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration tweaked its policy on drones to allow flights at night.“That may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk,” Mayorkas said.

“I want to assure the American public that we are on it.”He has previously claimed the drones were likely just from “convenience stores.” Residents in New Jersey especially have been tormented by the sightings across Morris, Passaic, Bergen and Hunterdon counties which have been going on since at least Nov.18.

Some of the drones are reportedly as large as SUVs — and have been hovering over critical public infrastructure and flying in grid-like patterns as if mapping areas, according to local Jersey officials and residents.Some of the drones have now hit highly dense Essex County — home to Newark Liberty International Airport and the mega-busy Port of Newark.They also have made their way across areas of New York and the country.Some of the drones also supposedly fly at...