Senate Negotiates Homeland Security Budget, ICE at Airports

It's March 24.

You're listening to Durham News today, AI-powered local news.

I'm Corey, with the story.

Senators are working on a deal to break the Homeland Security budget impasse by funding

most of the department, including pay for transportation, security administration screeners at airports.

The plan would leave out immigration and customs enforcement removal operations, which sparked

the main fight.

This comes as unpaid TSA workers deal with financial hardship, leading to shortages and massive

delays as security lines nationwide.

President Donald Trump directed ICE officers to step in at airport checkpoints, a move that's

raised eyebrows since immigration agents rarely handle.

Domestic screening.

The Senate just confirmed Mark Wayne Mullin as the new Homeland Security Secretary on

Monday, and he's promising to study the ship and keep the department out of the headlines.

Travelers are still facing huge backups.

With some airports like Houston's George Bush Intercontinental reporting, weights of three

and a half to four hours on Tuesday morning, Atlanta's Hartfield Jackson is telling folks

to arrive four hours early for flights, while places like Baltimore, Washington suggests

three hours just, in case.

A few spots, such as Los Angeles International, are seeing quicker lines of just minutes.

ICE East agents have shown up at major hubs, including Atlanta, New York's John F. Kennedy,

Newark Liberty, Houston, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Chicago's.

O'Hare, where local leaders are keeping watch.

Federal law enforcement is common at international arrivals, but not typically at TSA spots for

everyday flyers.

Senate leaders from both parties call the talks positive and productive, with Republicans

visiting the White House Monday night to push details.

Forward.

Expect more updates as they aim to wrap this up soon and get airports moving again.