The White House Border Affairs Director, Tom Homan, announced on Sunday that special agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be deployed to airports on Monday, March 23rd, to alleviate the pressure on security checks.
The deployment of ICE agents comes at a time when the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has left airport staff overwhelmed. President Trump mentioned on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” that ICE will be heading to airports on Monday to assist the outstanding TSA personnel who are still on duty.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Trump’s border chief Homan also stated that ICE personnel will be deployed to airports on Monday. “We (referring to ICE personnel) will be at the airport tomorrow to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in managing security check queues,” Homan said.
He added that the ICE deployment aims to help TSA carry out their duties and expedite the airport security screening process for American citizens. ICE agents can handle tasks that do not require TSA experience, such as guarding exits, to ease the burden on TSA staff and enable them to focus on passenger screening.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the plan to deploy ICE agents to airports. He told CNN that the last thing the American people need is untrained ICE agents deployed at airports nationwide.
With DHS shutdown for nearly five weeks due to a funding deadlock in Congress, TSA personnel under DHS have been working without pay, causing shortages in airport staffing and long queues for travelers across the U.S., sparking concerns about America’s ability to prevent attacks.
President Trump posted on “Truth Social” that if leftist Democrats do not immediately sign an agreement to restore funding, especially for airports, he will send ICE agents to airports to enforce security.
Transportation Secretary Daffy stated in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that if TSA personnel do not receive wages by Friday, more people may resign or seek other employment.
According to NBC News, over 400 TSA employees have quit since the DHS shutdown began. White House Border Affairs Director Homan stated in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, “All these federal employees are working without pay for the third time, the President has had enough, he will not allow the American people to be ‘held hostage.'”
“We will send ICE agents to airports not only to relieve the pressure on TSA personnel but also to help Americans pass through security checks faster,” he said.
Republicans have been pushing for funding for the Department of Homeland Security, while Democrats are seeking independent funding for agencies like TSA, excluding immigration actions.
The Senate blocked Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s proposal to pay TSA employees’ wages on Saturday. The previous day, the Senate also failed to pass a bill aimed at ending the funding interruption. Democrats insist that the alternative proposals from the White House, which include some concessions, are inadequate.