1 hour ago
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are assisting with security in some airports as the partial government shutdown contributes to long lines. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the National Guard could be deployed next if additional personnel are needed. As of early Monday evening, there was still no deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, more than a month after much of its funding lapsed due to an impasse in Congress on immigration enforcement reform. Now, Trump is adding a new demand to already complicated negotiations. White House border czar Tom Homan told reporters on Monday that ICE agents were being sent to fourteen airports. "There will be more," Homan said. "Their number one mission there, as the president said, is to help TSA with security, help move the flow of people through those lines." DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis declined to provide a list of airports where ICE is expected, citing operational security, but she said in a statement that hundreds of agents would be involved. The Associated Press reported seeing ICE officers patrolling terminals at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy International in New York, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, and Louis Armstrong International outside New Orleans. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International confirmed ICE would be on-site, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office was monitoring the deployment of federal officers at O’Hare International.TSA officers and other essential employees under the DHS umbrella are expected to continue working without pay during the partial shutdown, but many have called out sick or quit their jobs due to financial hardship. Homan has said that ICE agents would help ease the workload by helping TSA guard exit lanes, among other tasks. He said they would not be conducting screenings. Trump suggested in a social media post this weekend that ICE would be carrying out immigration arrests, but told reporters on Monday that's "not why they're there." Homan reiterated that immigration enforcement is not the focus of the mission, but he didn't rule it out "if they see criminal activity" in airports. Unlike other ICE operations, Trump is asking agents not to wear masks in airports, and many officers were seen patrolling without face coverings on Monday. "I didn't think it was an appropriate look for an airport. I think it's a very appropriate look when they're out on the street," Trump said. The decision to send ICE into airports has been condemned by unions and some lawmakers. Critics say ICE agents lack aviation safety training and could put some travelers on edge. "That's asking for trouble. It will make the chaos at the airports even worse," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Democrats are demanding several immigration enforcement reforms before fully funding DHS, but say they're willing to move forward with funding for much of the department while negotiations continue."Democrats have said over and over again, please fund TSA. We will not block that. All Donald Trump has to say is 'yes,'" said Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey).But Trump is now urging Republicans not to make a deal on DHS unless Congress passes partisan voting legislation called the SAVE America Act, which aims to require voter ID at the polls and proof of citizenship during the registration process. "Nobody can vote on Homeland Security without voter ID or proof of citizenship," Trump said. "We're tying them together." Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who supports the bill, has repeatedly said that passing the SAVE America Act would require Democratic support to clear the chamber's 60-vote threshold. Democrats oppose the legislation and aren't expected to budge.
WASHINGTON —
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are assisting with security in some airports as the partial government shutdown contributes to long lines. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the National Guard could be deployed next if additional personnel are needed.
As of early Monday evening, there was still no deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, more than a month after much of its funding lapsed due to an impasse in Congress on immigration enforcement reform. Now, Trump is adding a new demand to already complicated negotiations.
White House border czar Tom Homan told reporters on Monday that ICE agents were being sent to fourteen airports.
"There will be more," Homan said. "Their number one mission there, as the president said, is to help TSA with security, help move the flow of people through those lines."
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis declined to provide a list of airports where ICE is expected, citing operational security, but she said in a statement that hundreds of agents would be involved.
The Associated Press reported seeing ICE officers patrolling terminals at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy International in New York, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, and Louis Armstrong International outside New Orleans. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International confirmed ICE would be on-site, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office was monitoring the deployment of federal officers at O’Hare International.
TSA officers and other essential employees under the DHS umbrella are expected to continue working without pay during the partial shutdown, but many have called out sick or quit their jobs due to financial hardship.
Homan has said that ICE agents would help ease the workload by helping TSA guard exit lanes, among other tasks. He said they would not be conducting screenings.
Trump suggested in a social media post this weekend that ICE would be carrying out immigration arrests, but told reporters on Monday that's "not why they're there." Homan reiterated that immigration enforcement is not the focus of the mission, but he didn't rule it out "if they see criminal activity" in airports.
Unlike other ICE operations, Trump is asking agents not to wear masks in airports, and many officers were seen patrolling without face coverings on Monday.
"I didn't think it was an appropriate look for an airport. I think it's a very appropriate look when they're out on the street," Trump said.
The decision to send ICE into airports has been condemned by unions and some lawmakers. Critics say ICE agents lack aviation safety training and could put some travelers on edge.
"That's asking for trouble. It will make the chaos at the airports even worse," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
Democrats are demanding several immigration enforcement reforms before fully funding DHS, but say they're willing to move forward with funding for much of the department while negotiations continue.
"Democrats have said over and over again, please fund TSA. We will not block that. All Donald Trump has to say is 'yes,'" said Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey).
But Trump is now urging Republicans not to make a deal on DHS unless Congress passes partisan voting legislation called the SAVE America Act, which aims to require voter ID at the polls and proof of citizenship during the registration process.
"Nobody can vote on Homeland Security without voter ID or proof of citizenship," Trump said. "We're tying them together."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who supports the bill, has repeatedly said that passing the SAVE America Act would require Democratic support to clear the chamber's 60-vote threshold. Democrats oppose the legislation and aren't expected to budge.
