MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials from South Florida’s two major airports said Monday that, despite an announcement from President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have not been deployed to man security lines during a partial government shutdown ― at least not yet.
Federal immigration agents have been seen at Atlanta’s airport, however.
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 signs of backing down.
Across the country, airports have seen long waits at lines as now-unpaid screeners call out of work.
Lines at Miami International Airport were relatively quiet on Monday. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, things were busier amid an influx of spring breakers.
Travelers at MIA said they were grateful to be moving around with ease, but they know that government employees have not had a paycheck.
“I think that we need to support all of them and at the end of day, they’re all humans and people and regardless of what the government’s doing and stuff like that, we’ve got to support them as much as possible,” flyer Kristian Cartell said.
Meanwhile, traveler Sparkle Callender said she was surprised by the lack of lines at MIA on Monday.
“You know, watching the news, you would expect lines and wait times,” she said. “But (it’s been) pretty easy.”
Local 10 News has contacted ICE to see if the agency plans to help staff security lines in the coming days or weeks at South Florida’s airports, but has not yet received a response.
Officials at both airports encourage flyers to check with their airlines before heading in.
Seung Min Kim and Lisa Mascaro from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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