TSA has been bleeding staff since the DHS shutdown began on February 14th. Over 400 TSA officers have quit their jobs since the funding lapsed. Many more have been calling out rather than show up to work without a paycheck. If you’ve been through a major U.S. airport recently, you already know what this looks like on the ground. President Trump announced on Sunday that ICE agents will deploy to airports under the direction of border czar Tom Homan, even as talks to fund the Department of Homeland Security have yet to produce any breakthrough.
ICE Agents at U.S Airports: What’s Their Job Description?
Homan said agents would cover security entry and exit points, but not baggage screenings. His reasoning: a trained ICE officer can guard an exit, freeing up a TSA officer to return to the scanning machines and help move lines faster.
However, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy appeared to suggest a broader role for ICE entirely, raising serious questions about just how coordinated this plan actually is. He pointed to ICE agents running similar equipment at the border (which is actually CBP’s job, not ICE’s).
What’s Happening On The Ground?
Atlanta’s Mayor confirmed that federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations would deploy to Hartsfield-Jackson starting Monday morning, assigned to line management and crowd control. He also stated that federal officials indicated this deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities.
However, Homan simultaneously confirmed that ICE agents will continue to enforce immigration laws as they deploy to terminals and security lines. A former acting ICE Director assessed the whole operation as likely a political stunt that won’t do much to actually reduce hours-long wait times.
When Will The Stalemate End?
There are very few signs lawmakers will reach a deal before a planned holiday break. Also, President Trump added a fresh complication Sunday night, saying he won’t support any DHS funding deal unless Democrats back an elections overhaul bill that’s already facing long odds in the Senate.
The next critical date to watch is this Thursday, when TSA paychecks are due again. There’s always a risk that even more officers could walk off the job.
The Pundit’s Mantra
Whether you’re flying for spring break or heading out on a hard-earned redemption trip, here’s what you should do right now:
- Arrive 3 hours early for domestic flights at major hubs.
- TSA PreCheck and CLEAR are worth every penny right now. If you don’t have them, consider signing up before your next trip.
- Lounge access could be your savior (unless lounges get too crowded as well)
- Watch Atlanta, JFK, Newark, LAX and O’Hare most closely – these are the highest-volume airports and first in line for the ICE deployment.
- Avoid tight connections entirely.
What do you think about this most recent move? Do you think this is just political posturing or a helpful move to ease the current issues with long lines at U.S airport? Tell us in the comments section.
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