Mayorkas Downplays Drones in New Jersey

Over the last few weeks, there have been a rather disturbing number of reports of drones around the country, but this has been especially true in New Jersey.

According to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, people are losing their minds over nothing.

New Jersey Officials Frustrated

In just one county in New Jersey, there have been nearly 50 separate sightings of drones over neighborhoods.

After the slew of reports were filed, the FBI and DHS stated there was “no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings” in New Jersey “pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”

New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson, a Republican, is not happy with that response, stating, “First, they say you’re not seeing what you’re seeing. There’s nothing here, nothing here to be seen. And then they tell us that they don’t know what it is. They don’t know what’s happening. It’s all a lie.”

Seaside Park, N.J., Mayor John Peterson Jr. agreed, stating, "These issues are very, very concerning, and the response from the federal government is very, very insulting."

Security Experts Chime In

With this sudden surge of drone activity, residents are concerned that there is some type of operation going on, either within our government or a foreign government that is using drones.

Now, some security experts are chiming in on what this could possibly be.

For instance, Clint Emerson, a retired Navy SEAL (he also owns Escape the Wolf, a private security firm), stated, “My first guess is these are potentially government programs kept within what’s known as a ‘Special Access Program,’ which is purposely put together to keep even the most cleared people out — it truly is to keep it secret.

“That’s why the government’s like, ‘We don’t know.’ They’re being truthful. They don’t even know the program exists.”

Nothing to See Here

Secretary Mayorkas was doing the media circuit this weekend to address the reports, but he did much the same thing the government has been doing all along… he denied it was anything to be worried about.

While on CNN, Mayorkas stated, “There very well may be drones in the sky, of course, but those are commercially available. One can go into a convenience store and buy a small drone. There are also commercial drones as well, but we know of no threat or nefarious activity.”

Then he tried to say that DHS has no authority here, stating, “It’s not as though anyone can just take down a drone in the sky. That in and of itself would be dangerous. Our authorities are very limited. That is precisely why we have gone to Congress to expand those authorities. Our authorities are limited by the United States Coast Guard in the maritime environment.”

Well, how about ordering someone to investigate the areas where the drones are being sighted to quell fears and discover what is happening here? Rest assured, if the government does not address this, citizens are more than likely going to take matters into their own hands.