Lily Maxwell
Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel deployed Saturday afternoon to Baltimore’s airport.WBAL-TV 11 News confirmed seeing ICE officers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport as travelers continued to shuffle through long lines, waiting for hours to get through security.The Maryland Aviation Administration released a statement saying ICE informed the state that additional Department of Homeland Security personnel, to include Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), were being deployed to BWI-Marshall starting Saturday afternoon.What will ICE officers do?”MAA was advised by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that ICE personnel will be working to assist TSA security checkpoints at BWI-Marshall, similar to their roles during recent deployments at airports across the country,” MAA said in a statement.MAA said primary aviation security functions, including passenger and baggage screening responsibilities, will remain with trained, skilled TSA personnel. The ICE personnel will provide operational support for TSA to speed up the clearance process for passengers.MAA has been informed by TSA that ICE’s primary focus is security operations, not immigration enforcement, during their deployment to BWI-Marshall.”I see ICE running around here, and I thank them for being here and I thank the TSA workers that are here. Other than that, this is not a happy place,” traveler Mary Stark told WBAL-TV 11 News.Travelers stuck waiting four lines deepFrustration was at an all-time high all day Saturday at BWI-Marshall, where the security line looped inside and outside the airport. At times, the sidewalk was four lines deep extending down the length of the concourse. “I can’t believe this is really happening. Why didn’t you sign to pay the TSA workers? Why are you putting your country in harm’s way?” traveler Catherine Cain told WBAL-TV 11 News.The airport urged travelers to arrive at the airport at least five hours before their flight’s departure time.“Our flight is in three hours. We think this will probably take longer. So, we’re trying to actually figure out booking a new flight,” traveler Maizie Horne told WBAL-TV 11 News.People rebooked flights while inching along the line to security Checkpoint C, which was often the only checkpoint open. Checkpoint B opened for a short time Saturday evening. At its worst, those at the front if the line reported having waited in line for five hours.Travelers’ frustrations with government boil overPeople shared their frustrations with the federal government.”I find that really just sickening. They don’t care about people. It’s just very self-centered. So, I blame it on the politicians,” Stark told WBAL-TV 11 News.”It’s just a real shame that the average middle-class American has to go through this. I never thought I would see it in my lifetime. It’s an absolute travesty,” traveler Dave McCarthy told WBAL-TV 11 News. Shannetta Griffin, the airport’s executive director and CEO, said in a statement: “We thank our passengers for their patience as we work with stakeholders to support safe, efficient travel. We’re grateful to our TSA agents, BWI personnel, concessions employees, and other workers who are keeping BWI operational during this challenging time.”Video below: Trump floats sending National Guard to airports next as ICE assists with long lines
Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel deployed Saturday afternoon to Baltimore’s airport.
WBAL-TV 11 News confirmed seeing ICE officers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport as travelers continued to shuffle through long lines, waiting for hours to get through security.
The Maryland Aviation Administration released a statement saying ICE informed the state that additional Department of Homeland Security personnel, to include Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), were being deployed to BWI-Marshall starting Saturday afternoon.
What will ICE officers do?
“MAA was advised by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that ICE personnel will be working to assist TSA security checkpoints at BWI-Marshall, similar to their roles during recent deployments at airports across the country,” MAA said in a statement.
MAA said primary aviation security functions, including passenger and baggage screening responsibilities, will remain with trained, skilled TSA personnel. The ICE personnel will provide operational support for TSA to speed up the clearance process for passengers.
MAA has been informed by TSA that ICE’s primary focus is security operations, not immigration enforcement, during their deployment to BWI-Marshall.
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“I see ICE running around here, and I thank them for being here and I thank the TSA workers that are here. Other than that, this is not a happy place,” traveler Mary Stark told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Travelers stuck waiting four lines deep
Frustration was at an all-time high all day Saturday at BWI-Marshall, where the security line looped inside and outside the airport. At times, the sidewalk was four lines deep extending down the length of the concourse.
“I can’t believe this is really happening. Why didn’t you sign to pay the TSA workers? Why are you putting your country in harm’s way?” traveler Catherine Cain told WBAL-TV 11 News.
The airport urged travelers to arrive at the airport at least five hours before their flight’s departure time.
“Our flight is in three hours. We think this will probably take longer. So, we’re trying to actually figure out booking a new flight,” traveler Maizie Horne told WBAL-TV 11 News.
People rebooked flights while inching along the line to security Checkpoint C, which was often the only checkpoint open. Checkpoint B opened for a short time Saturday evening. At its worst, those at the front if the line reported having waited in line for five hours.
Travelers’ frustrations with government boil over
People shared their frustrations with the federal government.
“I find that really just sickening. They don’t care about people. It’s just very self-centered. So, I blame it on the politicians,” Stark told WBAL-TV 11 News.
“It’s just a real shame that the average middle-class American has to go through this. I never thought I would see it in my lifetime. It’s an absolute travesty,” traveler Dave McCarthy told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Shannetta Griffin, the airport’s executive director and CEO, said in a statement: “We thank our passengers for their patience as we work with stakeholders to support safe, efficient travel. We’re grateful to our TSA agents, BWI personnel, concessions employees, and other workers who are keeping BWI operational during this challenging time.”
Video below: Trump floats sending National Guard to airports next as ICE assists with long lines
