Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, have followed through on promises from the president’s administration to send in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to US airports beginning on Monday to assist with security amid extremely long lines – and to help airport security agents who have been working without pay since 14 February because of a partial government shutdown.
ICE agents were seen at airports such as Atlanta, Newark, New Orleans and New York’s John F Kennedy. CNN reported nine other airports where ICE agents were seen.
Trump said on Sunday that Homan would lead the effort.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said “ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful [Transportation Security Administration] Agents who have stayed on the job despite” the shutdown resulting from a US Senate deadlock over stricter regulations on federal immigration enforcement.
Homan, meanwhile, appeared on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday and said: “We will be at the airports tomorrow.” It remained unclear what responsibilities ICE officers will have, and Homan said on Sunday that details were still being finalized.
“There’s TSA agents covering exits. People that enter through the exits. Certainly a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit, make sure people don’t go through those exits, enter an airport through the exits,” he said on CNN.
SeaTac has the one-way door things that look like airlocks. Door opens when you walk towards it, then closes behind you and another door opens after walking through a short hallway.
I believe they still keep someone there to watch, but mostly so that nobody walks up to the doors and starts banging on them.
That sounds like a boring job. Very little to do, but you can’t read a book or use your phone.
FYI I see no ICE in SeaTac, shockingly. Maybe in the destination airport?
Apparently the port of Seattle (who run seatac) have been running fundraisers to help pay for TSA employees transportation and food, which they claim is why they aren’t seeing the level of staffing drop like other airports.
This statement from the port commissionner on the local news site the South Seattle Emerald, explains why ICE is not expected for now.
I read a coment or two from alleged TSA agents online saying that they were not informed of any assistance coming from Ice, nor would Ice be able to assist with anything as they would need to be trained to actually be useful for anything.
I guess we’ll see in the coming days what will happen
One can only hope! I mean, you’re only supposed to see them at the exit, right?
I didn’t see them anywhere so I have no idea if they’re even here. Destination is in TX though and I’d be shocked if they aren’t there lol.
If Austin, we could grab a beer.
Dallas, sorry.
You’re the one I feel sorry for! Ugh. Dallas. It’s somehow flatter and worse than Austin. Shame, as we have some great coffeeshop/bar places in town.