For a time the blue uniforms of the Transportation Security Administration have been something you see at American airports. The Transportation Security Administration is a part of the airport experience. Some people think the Transportation Security Administration is necessary for safety while others think it is a hassle.. The Transportation Security Administration is the standard for keeping airports safe. Now because the government is not paying its workers things are changing. Reports say that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is taking over some of the jobs that the Transportation Security Administration usually does.
This change is not about who is doing the job it is also about how things look and feel.
The Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and many other people are wondering what this means for the future of air travel in America.
The reason for this change is that the government is not paying its workers. The Transportation Security Administration workers have to work even if they are not getting paid now.. This is very hard on them. Many Transportation Security Administration workers are not coming to work. Are quitting because they are not getting paid. This means that there are not people to check passengers and that can cause big problems for air travel.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement works a bit differently. Some parts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement can continue working during a government shutdown because they already have funding.The government wants to keep things moving so they are sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports.. There is a big difference between a Transportation Security Administration worker and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The Transportation Security Administration is trained to check passengers and find items. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a law enforcement agency that focuses on customs, immigration and keeping the borders safe.
For people who travel the biggest change is the feeling they get when they go through security.
The Transportation Security Administration workers are usually just checking for items and making sure people follow the rules.. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers can seem more like police. There are already reports of officers wearing masks or carrying guns at airports. That is making some people very nervous.
For people who travel to countries or have complicated immigration situations this change is very scary. Having Immigration and Customs Enforcement at airports blurs the line between keeping people safe and enforcing immigration laws. It makes people wonder if they will be asked about their immigration status when they are just trying to fly from one city to another. This is something that groups who care about liberties are very concerned about.
The decision to use Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Transportation Security Administration has caused a lot of controversy. Some people think it is an idea because it keeps things moving.. Others think it is a bad idea because it is not what Immigration and Customs Enforcement is supposed to do. They think the Transportation Security Administration has training that Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not have.
On the hand some people think that desperate times call for desperate measures. They think that if the Transportation Security Administration cannot do its job then Immigration and Customs Enforcement should step in. But even these people know that this is a temporary fix for a bigger problem: the government cannot agree on a budget.
Is Security Changing?
Critics say the Transportation Security Administration puts on a show to make people feel safe. Now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is changing things. It is not about keeping the plane safe it is about policing the public.
If this becomes a thing it could change the way Americans think about their government. We might start to treat air travel like we treat international travel with a lot of security and police presence.
What Does the Future Hold?
The big question is whether this is a change or just a temporary fix. Some people have been saying that the Transportation Security Administration should be changed or abolished because it is too expensive and not very effective. This crisis might be an opportunity to make those changes.
No matter what happens this situation shows us how fragile our systems are. When the people who are supposed to keep us safe are not getting paid the system breaks down.. When the system breaks down we might have to make changes that affect our freedom in ways we did not expect.
As you go to the airport be. Do not expect too much. The person checking your bag might be trying to keep you safe. They might be enforcing different laws. Either way air travel is feeling a bit more strict, than usual. Read More
