Immigration agents deploying to airports under border czar as TSA staffing falls short

President Donald Trump said Sunday border czar Tom Homan will be in charge of deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports on Monday, with Homan telling CNN the agents will assist with security at entrances and exits to ease TSA workload amid a partial government shutdown.

“This is about going to helping TSA do their mission and get the American public through that airport as quick as they can while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols,” Homan said on CNN’s “State of the Union with Dana Bash.”

Long security lines have been seen at airports around the country as TSA officers have quit their jobs or called out sick as they continue to work without pay.

“We’re simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise, such as screening through the X-ray machine. Not training that, we won’t do that,” Homan said. “But there are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant roles, such as guarding an exit so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker, and we’re just simply helping our fellow officers at TSA.”

Asked about logistics and numbers regarding deployment of ICE officers, Homan said planning discussions are happening Sunday in coordination with the heads of ICE and the TSA.

“I’m currently working on the plan now of execution, working with the Director of ICE and the administrator of TSA, the acting administrator. So we’ll put together a plan today, and we’ll execute tomorrow,” Homan said.

Homan added that details can be expected later Monday.

“Hopefully we’ll have all those answers here by this afternoon, but we’re working on it when we when we deploy tomorrow, we’ll have a well thought out plan to execute,” Homan said.