ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24\/7. Click here to watch<\/a><\/p>\nSome travelers in Chicago were concerned Saturday night after President Trump said he is planning to deploy ICE agents for security to major airports as soon as Monday if there isn’t a deal reached to fund DHS.<\/p>\n
The president’s plan comes as major airports, like Chicago O’Hare International Airport, saw long lines and longer wait times caused by lack of funding for TSA staff.<\/p>\n
“I’m a little concerned because we’re probably in a big group today, and so we have a lot of stuff, so hopefully it just goes by fast,” air traveler Sheyla Morillon said.<\/p>\n
In one of several post on Truth Social, the President blamed Democrats for the impasse, writing “If the Radical Left Democrats don’t immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before.”<\/p>\n
The warning comes as the five-week mark of a partial government shutdown that affects DHS. Congress missed a February 14 deadline to fund the department, which includes border security, anti-terrorism operations, immigration services and emergency management. Nearly 50,000 TSA workers have been on the job for weeks without pay.<\/p>\n
“Travelers are already extremely stressed by the time they get to the airport bring it another barrier outside of TSA,” air traveler Edwige Ngouen said. “It’s just gonna bring more chaos.”<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for DHS says many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars, confirming the highest nationwide call out rate of 10.22 % for the shutdown was Friday.<\/p>\n
‘Are they gonna train them to be at the airport?” air traveler J.B. Ngouen said. “That’s another question, so we’ll see what happens on the street. We don’t want that at the airport.”<\/p>\n
Democrats want ICE agents to take off the masks and wear body cameras among other things. Republicans have rejected their proposal to just fund TSA separately.<\/p>\n
“It’s gonna be very confrontational at the airports when they’re traveling, traveling in and out especially international flights,” air traveler Trisia Kholodenko said. “I think it will make people very on edge and traveling as already stressful enough.”<\/p>\n
Major airlines have warned Congress that the shutdown is creating a strain on both airport security staff and passengers.<\/p>\n
With millions expected to travel for spring break, long lines and long wait times are expected to only get worse.<\/p>\n
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