Since late November, an uninvited guest has been crashing holiday preparations across New Jersey. Mysterious drones continue buzzing through neighborhoods, leaving residents wondering who’s watching them deck their halls and light their menorahs.

From Jersey City to Camden, citizens report eerie encounters with unidentified aircraft hovering above their homes – and the federal response has been anything but reassuring.

Despite over 5,000 reported sightings and mounting concerns from citizens, the Biden administration maintained a dismissive stance.

“Nothing nefarious,” claimed President Biden on Tuesday, suggesting Americans shouldn’t worry about unidentified objects monitoring their Christmas celebrations. His casual response echoed weeks of federal authorities downplaying the aerial intrusions.

From ABC6:
There is a major development in the ongoing drone saga in New Jersey.

Several federal agencies had tried to put to it bed earlier this week by saying they found nothing out of the ordinary.

However, the Federal Aviation Administration has now issued temporary flying restrictions (TFR) in multiple cities across New Jersey, including several locations in our area, due to “special security reasons.”

But actions speak louder than words. The Federal Aviation Administration has now declared an emergency drone ban across 22 specific locations in New Jersey.

Complete with an ominous warning that “deadly force” may be used against aircraft posing an “imminent security threat.”

The restricted areas, newly designated as “National Defense Airspace,” create a strategic patchwork of no-fly zones that will remain in effect until January 17.

The timing and scope of these restrictions raise troubling questions about what federal authorities aren’t telling the public about these mysterious visitors.

“The people in New York and New Jersey have a lot of questions, and they’re not getting good enough answers,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

His attempt to pass legislation allowing local law enforcement to track drones was blocked Wednesday. The failed bill highlights the federal government’s struggling response to this aerial invasion.

Former President Trump, taking a characteristically more aggressive stance, called for immediate action on Truth Social this Tuesday: “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” The contrast between Trump’s decisive approach and the Biden administration’s month-long minimization of the situation hasn’t gone unnoticed by concerned citizens.

The FAA’s sudden shift from dismissal to declaring potential “deadly force” authorization has left many wondering what changed.

Under the new restrictions, drone pilots who violate the airspace may be “intercepted, detained and interviewed by law enforcement” – a far cry from the nothing-to-see-here narrative pushed just days ago.

Adding to the confusion, Senator Rand Paul blocked Schumer’s drone-tracking legislation, citing “serious concerns for Americans’ privacy, civil liberties, and Fourth Amendment protections.”

The Kentucky Republican’s opposition underscores the challenging balance between security measures and constitutional rights.

Meanwhile, New Jersey residents are left wondering why their holiday skies are suddenly considered sensitive enough to warrant military-grade protection.

The Department of Homeland Security and FBI have belatedly deployed drone detection technology and infrared cameras – but only after leaving citizens in the dark for over a month about what’s buzzing above their homes.

The timing couldn’t be worse for families hoping to enjoy peaceful holiday celebrations.

With restricted zones covering major population centers and critical infrastructure, the message is clear: something has spooked federal authorities badly enough to threaten deadly force against aerial intruders.

As Americans prepare to ring in the New Year, this drone drama serves as yet another reminder of our vulnerable borders – not just on the ground, but in the skies above.

The federal government’s delayed response and mixed messages highlight a troubling pattern of reactive rather than proactive security measures.

One thing is certain: while the Biden administration would prefer Americans ignore the eyes in the sky this holiday season, the FAA’s dramatic response suggests we’d better keep watching the watchers.

Our national security – and holiday peace of mind – may depend on it.

Key Takeaways:

• Biden administration’s initial dismissal of drone threats contradicted by FAA’s dramatic “deadly force” authorization.
• FAA is now banning certain drone traffic over NJ over the holiday.
• Holiday security concerns highlight broader national security vulnerabilities under current leadership

Source: ABC6