Suspension of resources for professionals caused longer queues than usual at airport security controls
President Donald Trump threatened to use Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at airports due to the lack of payment to security agents because of a partial budget blockade in Congress. “I will transfer our brilliant and patriotic ICE agents to the airports, where they will provide security like no one has ever seen before,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, in a message to Democrats asking them to immediately reach an agreement to free up resources and pay employees.
The agent said he is “wanting to send ICE on Monday, and I already said: be ready.” THE suspension of resources for security agents caused longer than usual queues at airport security checkswhere Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees have been working without pay since mid-February. Since February 14, resources for DHS have been frozen due to the dispute between Democrats and Republicans in Congress over ICE’s practices. DHS is responsible for security checkpoints at airports.
Os Approximately 65,000 TSA employees have not received their full salaries since March 13. According to various estimates, the annual salary of these agents varies between 50,000 and 60,000 dollars, which represents a budget of around 2.5 billion to 3.5 billion dollars per year.
Democrats in Congress oppose any new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until changes are implemented in the way ICE conducts immigrant arrest operations, after several videos of violent confrontations emerged on social media. Democrats have called for reduced patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing masks and a requirement that agents obtain a court warrant before entering private property.
A Trump’s first post came just hours after billionaire Elon Musk offered to pay salaries of airport security personnel. “I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA staff during this budget impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports across the country,” Musk wrote on his X social network.
*With AFP
