Border Czar Says Ice May Not Leave Airports Once Tsa Officers Are Paid

Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would stay astatine airports until TSA officers are capable to resume normal operations.

“We’re going to proceed an ICE beingness there, and until nan airports consciousness for illustration they’re successful 100%, you know, successful a posture wherever they tin do normal operations,” Homan said successful an question and reply connected CBS News’ “Face nan Nation.” “So if little TSA agents travel back, that intends we’ll support much ICE agents there.”

His comments travel days aft President Donald Trump directed nan Department of Homeland Security to salary Transportation Security Administration officers arsenic nan partial shutdown continues. Homan said successful a abstracted Sunday question and reply connected CNN’s “State of nan Union” that TSA officers will “hopefully” get paid by Monday aliases Tuesday.

Asked connected CNN whether ICE agents would time off airports erstwhile TSA officers commencement getting paid, Homan said, “We’ll see.”

ICE agents patrol astatine John F. Kennedy International Airport successful New York City connected Monday.Adam Gray / Reuters

“It depends really galore TSA agents travel backmost to work, really galore TSA agents person really discontinue and person nary scheme of coming backmost to work. I’m moving very intimately pinch TSA administrator and nan ICE head to determine what airdrome needs what,” he said.

“God bless nan men women of ICE,” Homan continued, saying that ICE agents were “plugging those holes” astatine airports. Homan said that ICE agents were helping pinch tasks for illustration recognition checks and protecting exit lanes.

Approximately 500 TSA workers person quit since nan commencement of nan shutdown, according to DHS. In addition, thousands of TSA workers person called retired of activity arsenic nan shutdown stretched connected and TSA labor went without paychecks. The shortages person led to agelong hold times astatine information checkpoints crossed nan country, pinch immoderate of nan hardest deed airports seeing hourslong lines.

A apical TSA charismatic testified earlier Congress past week that it takes astir 4 to six months to train proscription information officers.

On Friday, House Republicans passed a short-term DHS backing measure that does not person capable support successful nan Senate to go law. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., rejected a Senate-passed measure that would person funded each of DHS isolated from for migration enforcement and deportation operations.

The DHS shutdown became the longest partial authorities shutdown successful U.S. history connected Sunday, and location is nary clear way guardant for backing nan department.