DEVELOPINGTrump deploys ICE agents at US airports amid federal work stoppage chaos
President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. immigration officials from the Department of Homeland Security to fill security roles in airport queues, a move that follows weeks without pay for hundreds of thousands of Transportation Security Administration workers due to government shutdowns.
Key Points
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1President Trump directed Immigration, Customs Enforcement agents to man airport checkpoints due to the government shutdown.
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2Federal immigration officers will assist by checking passenger IDs or guarding exit lanes during security line congestion.
Developments
Perspectives
President Trump's decision sends US immigration agents across major airports to help with security during the government shutdown, causing concerns that their presence may escalate tensions among already frustrated air travelers.
— [Mar 22, 19:56] Immigration officers being sent to airports as shutdown frustrates travellers and screeners (Startribune)"Union members in the Midwest are expressing concern about agents' lack of training", highlighting that while Trump admin deploys ICE agents for airport security on Monday due to a DHS funding fight, TSA workers remain unpaid.
— [Mar 22, 19:47] Union TSA workers push back demand pay after trump admin deploy ice agencies in airports monday (Chicago.suntimes.com)"Officials scramble" as they carry out President Trump's weekend directive to have immigration agents provide security at US airport checkpoints amid the partial government shutdown.
— [Mar 22, 19:30] Officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been scrambling to carry out a weekend directive from president trump (CBS News)"US President Trump has ordered" ICE officers "to operate security queues", noting that funding fights for the Department of Homeland Security led directly to lengthy airport lines.
— [Mar 22, 19:25] TRUMP orders ice agents man us airporr queue (Abc.net.au)"Federal immigration" officers "newly ordered by President Trump... may guard exit lanes or check passenger IDs", a move that helps relieve security line congestion but leaves screeners angry about missed paychecks due to the budget impasse.
— [Mar 22, 18:05] Enhanced role for immigation offcers at us airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screners (Floridapolitics)President Trump has threatened federal immigration agencies with deployment at airports unless Congress funds the Department of Homeland Security. Union members in the Midwest are concerned about potential agent lack training and low pay as hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers have already gone unpaid since funding was not renewed last month, while officials note that specific duties for these officers remain subject to further discussions regarding TSA operations.