A web page from the Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport about ICE agents’ presence there stated: “We expect all federal officers will operate in accordance with law and in a manner that is consistent with the customer service standards PHX is known for”.
White House border tsar Tom Homan said on CNN yesterday that ICE would be at airports to help TSA agents, who are working without pay during the partial government shutdown. Staff shortages have caused lengthy delays at airports nationwide.
But in social media posts over the weekend, Trump also suggested ICE agents would be arresting undocumented immigrants at airports, “with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia”, a country whose immigrants the President has increasingly targeted in recent months.
News of ICE’s deployment to airports - and the uncertainty surrounding their role - sparked alarm among Democrats, who have been pushing for tighter limits on how those agents operate, citing concerns about aggressive and often violent enforcement efforts occurring since Trump returned to office and that the administration has fast-tracked training to expand ICE’s ranks.
Representative Troy Carter (D-Louisiana), whose district includes most of New Orleans, called Trump’s order to deploy ICE agents to airports “a political stunt and cheap theatre”, and noted Democrats had tried five times to pass legislation that would ensure TSA employees are paid during the partial shutdown.
“If Republicans truly care about protecting our airports and supporting the men and women who keep travellers safe every day, then they should join Democrats in funding the TSA and paying these dedicated workers,” Carter said.
Trump posted a message on social media saying ICE agents should not wear masks while patrolling airports, addressing at least one major point of contention between Democrats and the Administration in how ICE operates.
Democrats have said they will not support legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security unless there are changes to ICE, including prohibiting agents from wearing face masks while on duty.
- Emily Davies and Mariana Alfaro contributed to this report.
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