ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Will the Albuquerque International Sunport have U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers help out at TSA security checkpoints?
President Donald Trump said ICE officers would work at airports to help the U.S. Transportation and Security Administration. This comes as an ongoing partial government shutdown has led to hours of waiting at TSA security checkpoints.
ICE officers will go to the airports with the longest wait times, like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. However, that doesn’t include the Sunport – yet.
“TSA has advised that ICE will be assisting at certain airports. ABQ is not currently one of them. At some point in the future that could change,” a Sunport spokesperson told KOB 4.
The long TSA lines is due to the partial government shutdown’s impact on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Many TSA officers haven’t been paid, leading to officers calling out or quitting as the have fallen behind on their bills.
According to White House Border Czar Tom Homan, they’re still working on a full plan for ICE officers at TSA – but he told CNN they will take on responsibilities that don’t require specialized training.
“Certainly a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit, make sure people don’t go through those exits or enter an airport through the exits. Stuff like that relieves that TSA officer to go to screening and to reduce those lines. So wherever we can provide extra security. I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an x-ray machine because you’re not trained in that,” Homan said.
While this is going on, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin is set to have a final confirmation vote Monday to become the new Homeland Security Secretary. One of New Mexico’s U.S. senators, Martin Heinrich, indicated he supports Mullin and considers him to be a friend.
