Travel alert has some Miami International Airport travelers on edge

Shrinking TSA budget could mean less staff, longer wait times

MIAMI ā€“ A worldwide travel alert for Americans has some people at Miami International Airport thinking twice about flying this Thanksgiving.

"My mom, she was very nervous when we were booking the trip to Miami," Jamie Song told Local 10 News. "She was thinking maybe we shouldn't go (and) we should just stay in New York."

Authorities believe the likelihood of terrorist attacks will continue as members of ISIS return from Syria and Iraq. Additionally, there is a continuing threat from unaffiliated persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations, but conducted on an individual basis.

About 25 million people are expected to travel this holiday season. That's an increase of 3 percent from last year.

"You're going to see a lot of increased security here today, and you're going to not see a lot of increased security here today," Miami-Dade Aviation Department director Emilio T. Gonzalez told Local 10. "Because the plan is to make it as transparent as possible."

Transportation Security Administration full-time airport security staffing levels continue to decrease due to a shrinking budget. That means travelers can expect a longer-than-normal wait in security lines.

"Hopefully we got here in time," Evan Martin told Local 10. "And you'll see me looking around the corner to see how long those lines are."

Follow Ben Kennedy on Twitter @BenKennedyTV

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10