- Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deploy to US airports.
- TSA officers have not received pay since 14 February.
- Roughly 50 000 TSA employees work without pay during the shutdown.
- At least 376 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began.
- The shutdown reached its 36th day on Saturday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deploy to US airports on Monday. Tom Homan confirmed the deployment to assist Transportation Security Administration officers. Travellers call for TSA agents to receive pay after the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
TSA officers have not received a paycheck since 14 February. Roughly 50 000 TSA employees continue to work without pay. At least 376 officers have quit since the shutdown began.
Saturday marked the 36th day of the shutdown. Democrats demanded changes to immigration enforcement. Republicans argue for funding of the whole department. Airport screeners spent nearly half of the past 171 days with delayed paychecks including 43 days last autumn.
The TSA shared in a written statement: “This is about helping TSA do their mission, and get the American public through that airport as quick as they can, while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols. We’re simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise.”
Donald Trump shared “agents would do security like no one has ever seen before which would include the immediate arrest of all illegal immigrants who have come into our Country.” Hakeem Jeffries shared “The last thing the American people need is for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports across the country potentially to brutalize or to kill them.”
Patrice Clark of TSA shared “Everybody has got bills they have to pay, and it’s horrible. Times are hard for everybody at this point. Working and not getting paid and gas prices are extremely high like everybody needs their money. They need to pay them.”
Aaron Barker shared “For some people it can be life or death. It’s just sad and terrible that this is happening. People don’t think about the things they just naturally have in their home like toothpaste bathroom tissue milk detergent dish liquid. I’m sure those things are a necessity for every TSA officer. The first thing they want is their paycheck. The money is the most immediate need.”
