Security forces are called for airport security in America

White House border chief Tom Homan confirmed on Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would be deployed to US airports starting Monday, with the aim of alleviating long queues and stressful situations faced by passengers during a busy travel season.

President Trump announced this measure on Saturday as a threat and an aggressive operation to pressure Congressional Democrats to agree to a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). He further emphasized that an unprecedented security program would be implemented, under which all undocumented immigrants who have entered the country would be immediately arrested.

However, Mr. Homan stated in an interview with CNN that his agency is making plans to support thousands of airport security officers working without pay due to a partial government shutdown. Accordingly, their primary objective is to assist TSA officers in moving passenger queues forward quickly.

Although agents are to be deployed in less than 24 hours, specific details have not yet been confirmed by the controlling authority. Mr. Homan pointed out that they are primarily focusing on airports experiencing severe congestion for about three hours. He also mentioned that agency heads are still discussing how many agents, how quickly, and to which locations they will be deployed.

Mr. Homan explained that ICE agents already working at airport premises could cover passenger exits and other additional locations, thereby allowing TSA employees more time for their specialized duties of security screening. He confirmed that this is merely a step to assist the airport security agency in fulfilling its role by covering duties in locations that do not require specialized skills.

Meanwhile, New York Democratic Representative and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strongly criticized the President's decision on Sunday. Recalling the incident in Minneapolis last January where two American citizens were killed, he stated that what the American people absolutely do not need is to deploy untrained ICE agents into airports to cruelly treat or kill passengers.