White House border czar Tom Homan said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will assist Transportation Security Administration at airports to ease long security lines during staffing shortages, but they will not operate X-ray machines or conduct passenger screenings.
ICE To Support TSA By Covering Security Duties
On Sunday, Homan, speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, emphasized that ICE agents will not operate X-ray machines or perform passenger screening.
“Wherever we can provide extra security, I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine, because they’re not trained in that,” he said.
Instead, ICE officers will take over certain security tasks, such as monitoring exits and other airport areas, freeing TSA agents to focus on screening passengers and reducing long lines.
“There are certain parts of security that TSA is doing that we can move them off those jobs, and put them in the specialized jobs to help move those lines,” Homan added.
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that ICE will assist TSA at airports starting Monday.
He praised their efforts and criticized Democrats for withholding funding. He said, “THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. The great Tom Homan is in charge!!!”
ICE and TSA did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
Airport Delays Worsen Amid TSA, ICE Shutdown
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pushed to fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection separately from the Homeland Security budget to address airport delays caused by the partial government shutdown.
He said, “Let’s fund ICE and CBP through reconciliation… and the Democrat lunacy on open borders can be put to an end.”
The shutdown left TSA officers unpaid, causing absenteeism and delays of up to four hours at major airports during spring break.
Elon Musk offered to cover TSA salaries while airports like Denver International and Seattle-Tacoma provided grocery cards and on-site food support.
Musk wrote, “I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country.”
Airline executives condemned the shutdown, warning staffing gaps disrupted major airports and urging Congress to fund homeland security operations and protect frontline workers.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Joey Sussman on Shutterstock.com
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