From NBC News: Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would remain at airports until TSA officers are able to resume normal operations.
“We’re going to continue an ICE presence there, and until the airports feel like they’re in 100%, you know, in a posture where they can do normal operations,” Homan said in an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” “So if less TSA agents come back, that means we’ll keep more ICE agents there.”
His comments come days after President Donald Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to pay Transportation Security Administration officers as the partial shutdown continues. Homan said in a separate Sunday interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” that TSA officers will “hopefully” get paid by Monday or Tuesday.
An estimated 500 TSA workers have quit since the start of the shutdown, DHS reported. Meanwhile, thousands of TSA workers have called out sick as they are working without paychecks. TSA worker shortages due to the shutdown have caused long wait times at security checkpoints nationwide.
Asked if ICE agents would leave airports once all TSA officers are on duty, Homan said, “We’ll see.”
“It depends how many TSA agents come back to work, how many TSA agents have actually quit and have no plan of coming back to work. I’m working very closely with TSA administrator and the ICE director to decide what airport needs what,” he said.
Homan said ICE agents are “plugging those holes” at airports, helping with tasks like identification checks and protecting exit lanes.
“God bless the men women of ICE,” he said.
Read more at NBC News
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
