(The Center Square) – Federal immigration law enforcement officers have joined Transportation Security Administration workers at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
ICE agents were seen at O’Hare and several other airports around the country Monday.
More than 400 TSA employees have left the department and thousands of others are missing work while a lapse in federal funding leaves them without paychecks.
American Federation of Government Employees Local 777 President Darrell English told The Center Square that TSA workers are concerned.
“At the end of the day, they’ve been loyal to aviation and protecting the flying public, and all they’re requesting is to be paid, not to be replaced. When they see individuals assisting them, it gives them the thought that they’re trying to get replaced instead of trying to keep them on board,” English told The Center Square.
English said the workers are stressed.
“They’ve been sleeping in their cars at the airport because they couldn’t travel back and forth to work, all to protect the flying public and try to make sure that the spring break isn’t affected,” English said.
English said his members would have another issue in April, when rent and mortgage payments are due for a second month since they were last paid Feb. 13.
English said security lines have been longer, but the workers remain loyal and dedicated to the flying public.
At O’Hare, several travelers have reported longer lines during the last week while others said they were able to get through security without difficulty or additional delays.
President Donald Trump was asked on Monday if he would consider giving $10,000 bonuses to TSA workers who show up to work, as he did during the partial government shutdown last year.
“Well, it could happen. It’s amazing. They’re people that are really loyal and great. It’s not easy for them,” Trump told reporters in Florida.
The president said Democrats are to blame for the lapse in funding for TSA workers.
“All this money was approved. Everything was approved. This is done. The Democrats went in, and they want to have radical left lunatics come into our country. They want to have drug dealers. They want to have murderers come into our country. They want to have open borders, and we’re not letting it happen,” Trump said.
The president said ICE officers stationed at airports could arrest people trying to enter the U.S. illegally, but the ICE officers’ purpose is to help TSA.
The Chicago Department of Aviation says it expects more than 3.76 million passengers at O’Hare and Midway between March 19 and March 30, based on airline projections.
O’Hare is expected to see a 13% increase in passenger traffic compared with spring break 2025.
Morgan Sweeney contributed to this story.
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