Jen Psaki, while serving as White House Press Secretary, defended the Biden administration's practice of transporting unaccompanied migrant children from the southern border to various locations across the U.S., including suburban New York, stating it was part of the government’s legal responsibility to reunite them with parents or vetted sponsors. She disputed claims that these flights occurred in the "middle of the night," calling them "early flights," despite evidence showing many landings occurred between midnight and 6:30 a.m.

Critics, including former ICE officials and Republican lawmakers, challenged Psaki’s explanation, alleging that the administration was covertly relocating undocumented migrants across the country without proper oversight. Former New York ICE official Thomas Feeley claimed the flights were not to detention centers but involved releasing migrants into communities, calling the White House narrative "not matching reality."

The administration maintained that the flights were necessary for processing and safe care of unaccompanied minors, while opponents argued the actions reflected a broader strategy of managing the border crisis through controversial, politically charged measures.