Homan says whether ICE withdraws from airports depends on TSA staff returning to work.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Homan said ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) may withdraw from airports depending on how many TSA (Transportation Security Administration) employees return after missed paychecks.
- It has been reported that ICE officers have been assisting with ID checks, crowd control and access to screening areas since March 23, but are not conducting primary security screenings.
- TSA has endured a wave of resignations after DHS (Department of Homeland Security) funding lapsed on Feb. 14; agency leaders say hundreds have left and long lines have followed.
- Political deadlock persists: the Senate passed a DHS funding bill that excludes ICE and Border Patrol funding, while the House advanced a two‑month full‑funding plan that faces opposition in the Senate.
What Homan said and the operational picture
Tom Homan, described in the article as the White House border czar, told CNN it remains uncertain whether federal immigration officers will stay stationed at airports. "We’ll wait and see," he said, according to reports carried by NBC and The Hill — the continuation of ICE support hinges on the number of TSA agents who actually return to duty versus those who resigned. It has been reported that ICE agents began helping at airports on March 23 with tasks such as checking identity documents, crowd control and managing access to security checkpoints; agency officials emphasize they are not taking over primary security screening checkpoints.
Political context and staffing impact
The staffing squeeze follows a lapse in DHS appropriations on Feb. 14 that left most TSA employees — classified as "essential" — working without pay. Agency testimony to Congress said more than 480 TSA officers have resigned since the funding ran out, on top of more than 1,100 departures during last fall’s prolonged shutdown. President Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to pay missed wages for TSA staff, and Homan said pay was expected to be distributed the Monday or Tuesday after his appearance. Meanwhile, the Senate approved a DHS spending bill that omits funding for ICE and Border Patrol, and the House pushed a two‑month, full‑department funding measure that Senate Democrats say will fail if brought up.
What this means for travelers and immigrants
For travelers — including visa holders and international arrivals — the immediate effect has been longer security lines and uncertainty at checkpoints. For immigrants and communities of color, the presence of ICE officers in airports is sensitive: even if ICE is limited to logistical support, additional immigration enforcement personnel in terminals can heighten fear and confusion among people seeking asylum, lawful entry, or routine travel. Practically, the situation underscores how congressional gridlock over DHS funding can ripple into operational responses at airports and affect both employee livelihoods and the travel public. If ICE withdraws because TSA staffing rebounds, airports could return to normal screening routines; if not, some security and passenger-processing functions may remain supplemented by immigration officers until funding and staffing stabilize.
Source: Original Article