Federal agents have been deployed to airports across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, as the government shutdown drags on.
President Donald Trump’s decision to order federal immigration agents to U.S. airports to help with security during a budget impasse is drawing concerns that their presence may escalate tensions among air travelers frustrated over hours-long waits and screeners angry about missed paychecks.
Trump made clear on Sunday that he was going ahead with the plan to have immigration enforcement officers assist the Transportation Security Administration by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs unless Democrats agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are demanding major changes to federal immigration operations and showing no sign of backing down.
DHS officials declined to give specifics about operations, but an announcement at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Monday morning advised passengers to expect to see DHS officers providing assistance. Signs were placed shortly after advising travelers of ICE presence at Sky Harbor’s TSA checkpoints.
Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton hosted a press conference at the airport on Monday afternoon, calling on Congress to pass legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA, and calling for ICE reforms.
Sen. Ruben Gallego is also demanding answers on the deployment.
“Delays in our country’s airports caused by this shutdown are reaching crisis levels, including at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), and the deployment of ICE agents to major airports across the country is fueling further chaos,” Sen. Gallego wrote in a letter to outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “The American people deserve to understand how President Trump’s obstruction and partisan politics is making their lives more difficult and putting them in harm’s way.”
The senator is also seeking answers specific to Sky Harbor in relation to when the shutdown began.
