As Los Angeles hosts its first FIFA World Cup match on Friday, visitors arriving at LAX are getting a grand welcome with a fleet of homeless that the city has constantly failed to address.
Ahead of the tournament, the Free Press’s Austyn Jeffs visited the airport to check out the homelessness situation that fans will be greeted with upon their arrival.
LAX is one of the busiest airports in the US and its been taken over by homeless. Rafael Fontoura for CA PostThe video exposes airport terminals being converted into makeshift shelters, showing homeless people sleeping on the floor — with even a dog huddled in a blanket.
Homeless people at LAX Rafael Fontoura for CA Post
LAX Terminal B Rafael Fontoura for CA Post
Travelers and homeless people sharing a concrete bench at an airport. Rafael Fontoura for CA Post
A man sleeping on a wooden and concrete bench next to a trash can with his shoes on the ground Rafael Fontoura for CA Post“On any given night, up to 130 homeless people are camping out in the terminals at Los Angeles International Airport,” NBC4 reported back in 2020.
Police records obtained by NBC also showed LAX cops responding to 1023 incidents in 2019, with many of the alleged crimes involving homeless people.
In 2021, one man even managed to pass through security and get onboard an American Airlines flight. He snuck his way underneath the airport’s fence, where he eventually boarded the plane.
Homeless person Rafael Fontoura for CA Post
Four individuals, appearing to be homeless, sit or lie on a concrete bench at LAX airport. Rafael Fontoura for CA PostJeffs claims that this year, some have defecated in terminals while one even threatened to shoot passengers. There’s also been reported crimes such as assault, theft, carjacking, and even sexual battery.
The LAX’s website specifically states that “entry to LAX is only allowed for airline passengers and persons meeting” and that the airport is “closed to the general public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
