Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners


WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal immigration agents newly ordered to U.S. airports by President Donald Trump to help relieve security line congestion may guard exit lanes or check passenger IDs as a budget impasse has air travelers frustrated over hourslong waits and screeners angry about missed paychecks.

Trump made clear on Sunday, a day after saying he would use immigration officers for airport security starting Monday unless Democrats agreed on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, that he was going ahead with the plan to assist the Transportation Security Administration.

Hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers, including from the TSA, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard, have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew DHS funding last month. Democrats are demanding major changes in the conduct of federal immigration agents and showing no sign of backing down.

White House border czar Tom Homan, named by Trump to lead this effort, has also been meeting with a bipartisan group of senators in recent days over the partial shutdown and while he characterized those sessions as “good conversations,” he said they were “not at a point yet where we’re in total agreement.”

The Senate, in a rare weekend session, advanced the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to be Trump’s next homeland security secretary by a largely party-line vote, 54-37, with two Democrats joining Republicans. A vote on the confirmation could come as early as Monday as Mullin has tried to make the case that he would be a steady hand after the tumultuous tenure of Kristi Noem, Trump’s first DHS secretary.

Meantime, Homan said in Sunday news show interviews that the increased role of U.S. Customs and Immigrations Enforcement at airports — specific duties and numbers — was subject to discussions with the leadership of TSA and ICE “to find out where we can fit in.”

He pledged to have “a plan by the end of today, where we’re sending — what airports we’re starting with and where we’re sending them. … So it’s a work in progress.” The priority, Homan said, was “the large airports where there’s a long wait, like three hours.”

Immigration officers, as an example, could cover exits currently monitored by TSA agents, freeing them to work screening lines.

“ICE agents are assigned at many airports across the country already. They do a lot of investigation, criminal investigation on smuggling at airports,” Homan said, adding that “certainly, a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit and makes sure people don’t go through those exits, entering the airport through the exits. And stuff like that relieves that TSA officer to go to screening and to reduce those lines.”



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Meteor spotted in skies over southeastern Texas

    IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Now Playing Videos capture meteor above southeastern Texas 00:55 UP NEXT Startup wants to launch…

    Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office

    A Texas man has been charged with abuse of a corpse after he threw a bucket containing suspected human remains over a fence at the FBI’s Dallas field office and…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Slovenia’s Freedom Movement Party takes narrow election lead: Exit poll | Elections News

    Slovenia’s Freedom Movement Party takes narrow election lead: Exit poll | Elections News

    Israel Thought It Could Spur Rebellion Inside Iran. That Hasn’t Happened.

    Trump's changing course on Strait of Hormuz strategy raises questions about US war preparation

    Trump's changing course on Strait of Hormuz strategy raises questions about US war preparation

    Mohsin Naqvi – PCB ‘will take action’ against players opting out of PSL for IPL

    Mohsin Naqvi – PCB ‘will take action’ against players opting out of PSL for IPL

    Meteor spotted in skies over southeastern Texas

    Meteor spotted in skies over southeastern Texas

    Here’s Why Air Forces Are Expanding Their Stealth Fighter Programs

    Here’s Why Air Forces Are Expanding Their Stealth Fighter Programs