Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is urging calm after a wave of drone sightings in the tri-state area sparked alarm and calls for drastic action, including from some lawmakers who suggested shooting them down. Mayorkas made it clear during a recent interview that this isn’t the solution and downplayed the concerns, attributing many reports to “mistaken identity.”
Speaking with Wolf Blitzer, Mayorkas explained that most of these sightings appear to involve ordinary, commercially available drones—many of which can be bought at local stores. “We haven’t seen anything unusual,” he said. “There’s no evidence of a threat or any nefarious activity. People might be confusing small aircraft with drones or simply spotting drones that are legally and commonly used.”
Blitzer pressed him on why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hasn’t taken more aggressive action against drones breaking laws. Mayorkas, visibly frustrated, responded, “We can’t just shoot drones out of the sky. There are strict rules about how and when drones can be taken down.”
Mayorkas went on to explain the limitations DHS faces. Different agencies, like the Coast Guard, Secret Service, and Customs and Border Protection, have specific areas where they can act, but those authorities don’t cover every scenario. “There’s a lot of red tape,” he admitted, while also warning civilians not to take matters into their own hands. “Trying to bring down a drone yourself could be incredibly dangerous.”
The Secretary called on Congress to step in, saying the federal government needs expanded authority to deal with drone activity more effectively. He also suggested granting state and local officials more power, under DHS oversight, to address these concerns.
The issue has caught the attention of some high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump, who weighed in on Truth Social. “Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so!” he wrote, adding fuel to public speculation.
For now, Mayorkas is standing firm, emphasizing that there’s no evidence of a threat and calling for patience as officials work to untangle what’s behind the sightings.
