President Trump said Saturday he would deploy immigration enforcement officers to handle airport security if Democrats don't agree to fund airport safety programs. The threat comes as TSA workers face missing their second paycheck due to the ongoing government shutdown.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump issued a warning Saturday that he would station federal immigration enforcement officers at airports across the nation unless congressional Democrats immediately approve funding for airport security operations.
“I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before,” the president stated in a social media message.
The threat comes as Transportation Security Administration workers are scheduled to go without their second consecutive paycheck on March 27, as the partial government shutdown enters its 36th day. The impasse centers on disagreements over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA operations.
In recent weeks, numerous TSA screeners have been calling out sick as their paychecks have stopped coming. This staffing shortage has created significant travel delays and disruptions at airports nationwide.
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