Trump Deploys ICE to Airports Amid Shutdown

0:00It's March 22nd. This is Adelaide News today, local news powered by AI. President Trump has directed immigration and customs enforcement agents to help manage security lines and major U.S. airports. This move comes amid a partial government shutdown that's left transportation security administration workers unpaid and caused massive backups for travelers. The shutdown stems from a funding battle in Congress, where Democrats are pushing for reforms in how federal immigration agents operate. Without a deal, hundreds of thousands of homeland security staff, including those from the TSA and Coast Guard, have gone weeks without paychecks. Travelers are facing chaos at busy hubs like Atlanta and New York's John F. Kennedy, with lines stretching for hours and crowds growing anxious. Officials worry about unpredictable wait times, forcing people to arrive extra early just to make flights. White House border official Tom Homan is coordinating the effort, focusing on large airports with the worst delays.

1:00ICE agents, already present for investigations, could handle tasks like watching exits or verifying IDs to free of TSA screeners. Discussions with agency leaders continue to nail down details, like which airports get help first, aiming to roll out a plan soon and ease the strain on everyone flying through.