WASHINGTON – Recently, President Donald Trump ordered federal immigration agents to U.S. airports as a way to help ease the long security lines that travelers have been facing. This decision comes at a time when many passengers have been frustrated with hours of waiting and security personnel are dealing with missed paychecks due to a budget impasse.
On a Sunday, Trump made it clear that unless Democrats agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he would proceed with deploying immigration officers to support the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This announcement was made amid a government shutdown, leaving many homeland security workers, including those from TSA and the Coast Guard, working without pay.
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, mentioned that he has been in discussions with a bipartisan group of senators about the ongoing shutdown. While he described these conversations as productive, he acknowledged they had not reached a consensus yet.
In a rare weekend session, the Senate advanced the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin to be Trump’s next homeland security secretary, aiming to provide stability after the previous secretary’s tumultuous term. A vote on his confirmation could occur soon.
Homan explained that the specific roles and number of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents at airports would depend on discussions with TSA and ICE leadership. He emphasized the need to prioritize airports experiencing long wait times, particularly those where lines can stretch up to three hours.
Immigration officers could take over duties like monitoring exit lanes, allowing TSA agents to focus on security screenings. Homan pointed out that ICE agents are already present at many airports, investigating criminal activities like smuggling. Their involvement could help alleviate the burden on TSA staff, enabling them to reduce wait times.
Trump announced on social media that ICE would assist TSA agents during the shutdown, criticizing Democrats for the ongoing standoff. Meanwhile, travelers expressed concern about reaching their gates amidst the chaos at airports.
At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, for instance, long lines extended from one end of the terminal to the other. One traveler, Blake Wilbanks, mentioned he arrived 2.5 hours early for his flight to Salt Lake City due to the shutdown’s impact on security.
The situation appeared even more chaotic at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, with large crowds pushing toward security checkpoints. TSA staff had to use megaphones to manage the crowd and prevent pushing.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the uncertainty passengers face regarding wait times, stressing the need for clearer expectations on when to arrive at the airport so that they can avoid unnecessary delays.
However, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed concerns about deploying untrained ICE agents at airports, given previous criticisms regarding their conduct during immigration enforcement activities.
The ongoing discussions and actions reflect the complexities surrounding security in U.S. airports, especially during political standoffs that impact federal funding and operations. As travelers continue to navigate these challenges, the hope remains that solutions can be found to make air travel smoother and more efficient for everyone.
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Associated Press writers Collin Binkley in West Palm Beach, Fla., Anthony Izaguirre in Lindenhurst, N.Y., Yuki Iwamura in New York and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.
