Trump sends ICE to man security at some airports. What STL, MidAmerica flyers can expect
While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence has been reported at 13 airports as facilities struggle with security staffing, St. Louis Lambert International Airport and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport are not reporting ICE agents or significant delays as of Monday morning.
The Transportation Security Administration shortages seen at some airports are related to the partial government shutdown affecting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which means those showing up to work the security lines are doing so without pay. The funding lapse began in mid-February.
ICE has been sent to some airports for the purpose of filling in TSA staffing gaps, but President Donald Trump said the federal agents will also make arrests of undocumented immigrants at airports, CNN reports.
“They are not here and we have had no issues with TSA staffing or our checkpoint waits,” Lambert airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge wrote the News-Democrat in a Monday morning email, referring to ICE activity.
The average wait time is about seven to 10 minutes at Lambert, Hamm-Niebruegge added, but officials still recommend travelers arrive two hours before their flight.
MidAmerica airport director Darren James said ICE is not at the metro-east facility, either.
“MidAmerica St. Louis Airport does not currently have ICE personnel here, nor have I been given any indication they will be. As far as impacts, we have not noticed appreciable increases in security wait times,” James wrote in an email. “We have instances where we are limited to a single screening line, rather than two; however, wait times have not increased significantly.”
The security checkpoint and Allegiant check-in open two hours prior to scheduled departures, so James said the general recommendation is for travelers to arrive at MidAmerica two hours before their flight.
Spring break travel may contribute to wait times, as well.
Chicago-O’Hare International Airport is among those with ICE presence expected Monday, according to reporting by CNN, and officials with Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport have warned wait times could exceed four hours Monday.
In a response to a BND inquiry about ICE presence at airports and security line wait times, Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for public affairs at the DHS, said for the department would not confirm the location of its officers and blamed Democrats for the ongoing partial shutdown.
“Because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the country—especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families,” Bis wrote. “This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work because they are not able to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent. While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.”
La Guardia Airport in New York is temporarily closed after two people were killed when an Air Canada plane and fire truck collided late Sunday night.
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