The Trump Administration has sent ICE agents to a number of airports around the country with the goal of helping TSA agents cut the long security lines.
President Trump announced on Truth Social on Sunday that he would send ICE officers to airports to “help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job.”
The partial government shutdown has led to some TSA agents not reporting for work because they are not receiving pay.
Border czar Tom Homan said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that the ICE officers would be helping TSA agents and help “get the American public through that airport as quick as they can while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols.”
So far, ICE agents have been spotted at airports in Texas, New York, Illinois, and Georgia, according to Politico.
KNX News’ Jon Baird went to Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, where he reported that there were no ICE agents, but he spoke with some travelers who said it’s a good idea to have ICE agents there.
“We support ICE,” one man told Baird. “We're very happy.”
“I mean, they have to do what they have to do, right?” one woman said.
But one man told Baird he thinks ICE agents “don’t know the job” of TSA agents.”
“They're going to be put at that desk, and they don't understand the job of the TSA agents,” he said.
Another man said he thinks it’s “absurd” to have ICE agents in airports.
“I think ICE has absolutely no business in an airport,” he said. “None at all.”
In a statement to Fox 11, LAX officials said the airport “has not experienced any significant deviations from typical passenger wait times at TSA security checkpoints,” and do not anticipate any staffing or operation changes.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security failed to advance in the Senate on Friday after Democrats declined to support a bill. On Saturday, in a rare weekend session, the Senate rejected a motion by Democrats to take up legislation to fund TSA.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
