TSA wait times are at an all-time high, sometimes lasting several hours. But travelers from across the U.S. reported uneven experiences Wednesday, March 25.
President Trump sends ICE agents to assist TSA with airport delays
President Donald Trump sent ICE agents to assist the TSA as wait times at airports skyrocketed due to the partial government shutdown.
The Transportation Security Administration is reporting unprecedented airport security wait times amid the partial government shutdown, but travelers from across the country are reporting vastly different experiences.
Brianna Toth made it through security at Indianapolis International Airport in about 15 minutes on March 25 before boarding a flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. After reports of long lines, she considered flying and driving nine hours to Washington to see the cherry blossoms.
“I’m a little nervous to leave here and go home,” she said. “If backups such as ICE agents are further strengthened.”
As the shutdown enters its fifth week, TSA employees are having to work without pay, absenteeism has skyrocketed, and security lines have extended outside terminals in some locations. TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeil said during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that wait times at some airports exceed 4.5 hours.
Meanwhile, federal immigration agents are stationed at more than a dozen airports. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed it has sent hundreds of immigration officers to help secure airports.
News of the disruption has raised concerns among some travelers, including those who did not fly out of airports like Atlanta and Houston, where long wait times were reported. USA TODAY spoke to more than a dozen passengers who arrived at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from airports large and small in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Many travelers said they arrived for flights earlier than usual and made backup plans amid the uncertainty. Some people report having terrible experiences going through security.
After a week in Brazil, Rebecca Durrett returned home to a travel nightmare. Durrett, 28, said he had to go through airport security twice at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport because he had trouble purchasing duty-free items.
“They were very rude and disrespectful, and when I said, ‘No one should be treated like that,’ they yelled at me and said, ‘We’re not getting paid,'” Durrett said.
USA TODAY has reached out to the TSA for comment on the incident.
Durrett said it took three hours to get through security and then she had to run to catch a connecting flight to Washington. She said returning home was a “completely different experience” than the process leading up to her holiday destination.
“It made me not want to travel anymore,” she said.
Durrett was upset, but said the blame lies with the Trump administration, not the TSA or airport workers. She said she didn’t see any Immigration or Customs Enforcement officers at the Atlanta airport, but researched what to do when interacting with ICE before leaving in case she witnessed someone being treated unfairly.
“We honestly know our privilege, and as terrible as it is to say this, we want to take advantage of it,” she said. “So we did a lot of preparation on how we can help if we need it.”
Some travelers who were bracing for delays and problems at major airports were pleasantly surprised.
Bani Ganesh, 25, said she arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport at sunrise for a 9:30 a.m. flight and was able to breeze through security in about 25 minutes.
“I was nervous because it was all news, but it wasn’t too bad,” she said.
Cristina Unitas, who was in Washington for a conference, said she saw news articles warning of possible significant delays at Pittsburgh International Airport, but there were no security lines when she arrived. She had heard that ICE officers were also stationed at the airport, but she wasn’t sure if she had seen them.
Although the trip to Washington was fairly brief, Unitas, 50, plans to travel to Atlanta with six other people for a wedding soon. She hopes things go just as smoothly.
“It was disappointing,” she said.
Contributors: Natalie Neysa Alund and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
