ATLANTA (AP) — Federal immigration officers have been seen at an airport in Atlanta after President Donald Trump announced that he would deploy agents to supplement the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) amidst a government shutdown that has led to long lines at security checkpoints across the United States.
On Monday morning, a small number of federal agents were observed by The Associated Press near busy lines at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Typically, federal agents are a standard presence at international airports, where Customs and Border Protection officers oversee screening of incoming travelers, while Homeland Security Investigations agents deal with criminal matters related to smuggling, trafficking, and fraud.
What's noteworthy is their visibility at TSA security checkpoints, a domain usually reserved for transportation security officers rather than federal investigators. President Trump stated on Sunday that he would instruct federal immigration agents to assist with airport security operations.
On Monday morning, a small number of federal agents were observed by The Associated Press near busy lines at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Typically, federal agents are a standard presence at international airports, where Customs and Border Protection officers oversee screening of incoming travelers, while Homeland Security Investigations agents deal with criminal matters related to smuggling, trafficking, and fraud.
What's noteworthy is their visibility at TSA security checkpoints, a domain usually reserved for transportation security officers rather than federal investigators. President Trump stated on Sunday that he would instruct federal immigration agents to assist with airport security operations.
