ICE deploys agents to U.S. airports amid federal budget standoff
"I don't see an ICE agent looking at an x-ray machine, because you're not trained in that," he said on CNN's State of the Union.
Beginning tomorrow, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be reassigned to U.S. airports in a bid to ease mounting delays at security checkpoints, officials said, a rapid response to a budget impasse linked to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy.
Mr Trump announced the unusual deployment in a social media post early today, setting federal officials scrambling to finalize an implementation plan on short notice.
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Tom Homan, the president’s senior border aide, told CNN that ICE personnel would be moved from their usual responsibilities to support airport operations tomorrow — though not to perform tasks for which they lack training.
“I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an x-ray machine, because you’re not trained in that,” he said on CNN’s State of the Union.
“We’ll put together a plan today and we’ll execute tomorrow,” he said.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been suspended since 14 February amid Democratic demands for policy changes following Mr Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
The shutdown has caused long wait times at airports and many TSA agents have quit
DHS oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which runs airport security screenings, and many TSA staffers have been working without pay for weeks.
The resulting staffing shortfalls have led to increased call-outs and soaring queue times at checkpoints, in some cases stretching to multiple hours.
According to DHS, more than 300 TSA employees have resigned since the shutdown began on 14 February, and U.S. media outlets report that unscheduled absences have more than doubled.
Union representatives say some officers are picking up second jobs or relying on public donations, while several major airports have started gathering gift cards and stocking food pantries to support unpaid TSA personnel.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the situation is likely to deteriorate further in the days ahead.
“As it gets worse, I think that puts pressure on the Congress to come to a resolution,” he told ABC’s This Week.
Democrats are insisting on limits to certain patrols, a ban on face masks and a requirement that ICE agents obtain judicial warrants before entering private property.
Although ICE is part of DHS, it has been able to continue operations using funds Congress approved last year.
In his Truth Social post, Mr Trump blamed “Radical Left Democrats” for the standoff, saying “what they have done to the Department of Homeland Security, our fantastic TSA officers, and most importantly, the great people of our Country, is an absolute disgrace.”
He added: “If the Democrats do not all for Just and proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!”
He closed the post with: “…I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday and have already told them to, GET READY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!”