SAN DIEGO — ICE agents began handling some security duties at select U.S. airports today amid an ongoing partial government shutdown that has sidelined many Transportation Security Administration officers, though there was no immediate indication any California airports would be involved.
Federal officials said Sunday that border czar Tom Homan would oversee efforts to deploy immigration enforcement personnel to supplement airport security during the shutdown, which has left roughly 50,000 TSA employees working without pay, contributing to increased absenteeism and staffing shortages nationwide.
Various media outlets reported Monday that ICE agents were being deployed to 14 airports across the country — none in California.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria denounced the move.
“Sending immigration enforcement agents to secure our airports is the wrong approach to addressing TSA staffing shortages,” he said. “ICE agents are not trained for aviation security, and inserting them into that environment presents real risks to public safety and public trust.
“San Diego is a proud binational region that relies on our airport to power our economy and serve millions of people each year. The presence — or even the threat — of untrained federal agents at airport checkpoints will only serve to further disrupt air travel and put passengers, workers, and our communities at risk.
“This situation is the result of a failure in Washington. A prolonged funding impasse has left TSA short-staffed at a critical time. Instead of improvising with untrained personnel, federal leaders should fund TSA now and continue negotiations on immigration policy separately. Our airports — and the people who rely on them — deserve real solutions.”
Other local officials also criticized the proposal, including a top TSA official at San Diego International Airport.
“I have no idea how they can contribute at an airport unless it was for intimidation purposes,” said Aaron Vazquez, a TSA lead transportation security officer at SAN and assistant airport steward for the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1260 in San Diego. “What are they going to do, find somebody and shoot them?”
Vazquez said his job is to ensure travelers are not a threat to aviation security, which he said has nothing to do with immigration enforcement.
“I don’t want them anywhere near the checkpoint and officers that I’m in charge of. I don’t want them interfering with what the officers are trying to do,” he said.
“I don’t need an ICE agent telling passengers what to do. We are trained to be nice to passengers. They are law enforcement so they are armed. TSA is not.”
City Councilwoman and Airport Authority Board Member Marni von Wilpert also objected.
“ICE’s aggressive, abusive conduct makes us less safe. Putting ICE in our airports will make travel more chaotic, more stressful, and less secure — not better,” she said. “ICE has already shown it refuses to follow the law and respect our communities — so I’m deeply concerned about what this deployment will mean for San Diego travelers and the thousands of workers at San Diego International Airport.
“The solution to long security lines and airport delays is simple: Congress needs to properly fund and staff TSA now.
“I have been in touch with San Diego Airport Authority staff and legal counsel. We do not yet know the full scope of ICE’s plans at the airport, but we are working to get answers and minimize disruption and anxiety for travelers and our workforce.”
Rep. Scott Peters, D-Poway, posted a photo of long lines at the airport Sunday, writing:
“View from the San Diego airport at 6:30 this morning. It doesn’t have to be like this. I have a bill to pay TSA workers, Coast Guard and emergency management without adding more to ICE and Border Patrol. Easy, right? But Trump won’t allow it. As the DHS shutdown drags into nearly 40 days, federal workers and travelers shouldn’t have to suffer from Republican inaction.”
Homan told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the effort was aimed at helping TSA fulfill its mission.
“We’re simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise,” he said. “Not trained in that? We won’t do that. But there are roles we can play to release TSA officers from non-significant duties, such as guarding an exit, so they can return to scanning machines and move people quicker.”
On Saturday, President Donald Trump said he would order ICE agents to assist with airport security if Congress did not reach an agreement to fund TSA officers. In a social media post, Trump said ICE agents could also be tasked with making immigration arrests at airports.
The proposal comes as the shutdown has left tens of thousands of TSA employees working without pay, contributing to increased absenteeism and staffing shortages nationwide. Administration officials said about 10% of TSA workers failed to report for duty on some recent days, compared to typical rates of less than 2%.
“Officers have to take matters into their own hands and not come to work,” Vazquez said. “They are stressed. They are coming to me saying, ‘What can I do?’ They can’t afford gas to get to work.”
The usual unplanned absence rate in San Diego before the shutdown was about 20 officers per day. Now, 70 to 80 officers are not reporting to work per day, Vazquez said.
Meanwhile, travelers are being warned to expect delays. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority issued a travel advisory on Sunday.
“Passengers traveling out of San Diego International Airport are encouraged to check their flight status before coming to SAN and plan to arrive at least two hours before their flight,” airport spokeswoman Nicole Hall said.
Hall said an influx of spring break travelers was also contributing to longer wait times, which could reach up to one hour.
“We appreciate the ongoing commitment from TSA, FAA and our partner airlines to maintain the safety and reliability of the national transportation system during this challenging time,” Hall said. “Our focus remains on ensuring a safe and efficient airport experience.”
Travelers were advised to arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures.
Average wait times at SAN are typically about 20 minutes, with a maximum of 30 minutes when fully staffed, but some wait times on Saturday reached an “unheard of” 80 minutes, according to Vazquez.
Before the shutdown, about 500 to 550 TSA officers were available daily in San Diego.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from its original version.
