ICE Agents join TSA

JOINING US. THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS TAKING A TOLL ON AIRPORT TRAVEL AS 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF TSA OFFICERS ARE BEING FORCED TO WORK WITHOUT PAY. THIS HAS LED TO MANY OFFICERS QUITTING OR CALLING OUT SICK ICE AGENTS DEPLOYING TO 14 AIRPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY REPORTEDLY TO HELP WITH THE STAFFING SHORTAGES OF TSA WORKERS. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE ONLY AIRPORT IN FLORIDA TO RECEIVE ICE AGENTS. WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK TALK WITH TRAVELERS WHO HAVE MIXED REACTIONS TO THE PRESENCE OF ICE AGENTS IN THE FORT MYERS AIRPORT. >> ICE AGENTS HAVE BEEN ON PATROL AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SINCE THE PARTIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEANS TSA WORKERS ARE NOT BEING PAID THE LEADING SOME TO NOT SHOW UP OR TEST QUIT. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DISPATCHED ICE AGENTS TO SUPPLEMENT TSA SECURITY DUTIES IN DOZENS OF SELECT AIRPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. RSW IS THE ONLY AIRPORT IN FLORIDA TO HAVE ICE AGENTS, ACCORDING TO CECIL PENDERGRASS, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND PORT AUTHORITY TO CHAIRMAN. >> EVER AND OTHER NEWS THERE FOR BACKUP WITH FOR SOMETHING I COULD NOT BE DOING. THE TENTACLES THAT ARE SERVED BY FOR THE RADAR SCREENS OF CERTAIN KIDS AGES FOR WE HAD THAT A SHORTAGE OF THOSE AGES, BUT BASICALLY HAS THE HANDS OF HELPING OUT WITH A PRESENCE. ANDREW PEOPLE FOR THE LINE. IF IT DOES NEED TO BE. >> ON THE IN THEIR NEW ROLE ICE AGENTS WERE CLEARLY VISIBLE STANDING IN GROUPS BY THE TERMINAL ACCENTS. ICE AGENTS DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED, BUT THEY SHARED A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM LAUREN, THIS ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOMELAND SECURITY. WHILE THE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO PUT THE SAFETY DEPENDABILITY. ANDY'S OF OUR AIR TRAVEL AT RISK. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TAKING ACTION TO DEPLOY HUNDREDS OF ICE OFFICERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED BY CONGRESS TO AIRPORTS BEING ADVERSELY IMPACTED. THIS WILL HELP BOLSTER TSA EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR SKIES SAFE AND MINIMIZE ERA TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS. TRAVELER KENNETH ROBERTS WONDERED ABOUT THEIR NEW ROLES. I ASSUME THEY'RE NOT GOING TO >> OPERATE THE X-RAY MACHINES BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T BE TRAINED. BUT ANY OTHER JOB? SURE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. ALTHOUGH SO FAR THE ONES THAT I'VE SEEN OF NOT BEEN DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAT STANDING IN GROUPS OFF TO THE SIDE. >> CHAT LASKY SAYS HE WAS SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY LINES MOVED THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINTS. >> I WAS INITIALLY AFRAID WHERE THAN THOSE? I WENT TO WHITE PLAINS ABOUT HALF HOUR EARLIER THAN MY THAN IT NORMALLY WOULD. >> AND I WAS THE 8TH PERSON IN LINE FOR A TSA PRECHECK. I WAS THROUGH AND 11 MINUTES. >> THERE WAS NOT A CAST AT ALL, BUT IT'S ALSO A SMALL AIRPORT. SO IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF I WAS OUT OF ORDER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> KAREN HARRIET FROM MINNESOTA, SO THAT ICE AGENTS THAT STEP YOU DO NOT SEEM IS FRIGHTENING AS THE ONES IN YOUR HOME STATE. >> AI IN GENERAL WOULD RATHER NOT SEE ICE. IF I SEE THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE GUNS IN MASKS, THEN THAT THAT'S MAYBE NOT AS BAD. >> TRAVELERS WHOSE 18 SAYS SHE IS GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PRESENCE. AND WHEN I GOT UP, I NOTICE ICE AND I SAID THANK YOU FOR SERVING. AND THEY SAID, OH, YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS FOR SAYING THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY FRIENDLY, VERY FRIENDLY. >> SOME TRAVELERS EXCHANGED PLEASANTRIES WITH THE AGENTS. >> AS IN THE CASE OF JOHN AND SUSAN, BACK. >> I HAVE A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICES IN MY FAMILY. >> I NEVER USE VAPE ARE WITH THEM AROUND AND A SMILE. YOU. >> OLESEN AND WAR IS A STATE POLICEMAN. HE'S VERY WELL TRAINED, A GOOD PERSON. AND THESE GUYS, THE 2 SAME FOR YOU. >> SEVERAL PEOPLE SAID THEY ARE UNSETTLED BY THEIR PRESENCE BUT DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED COMMISSIONER PENDERGRASS SAYS ICE WILL TAKE SWIFT ACTION AT THE AIRPORT IF NECESSARY. >> ANYBODY COULD OPT TO HONOR THOSE CITIZENSHIP IF THEY COME ACROSS THAT THE AIRPORT, THEY WOULD BE THE THING WITH THEIR PARENTS. >> MOST PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO FOCUS ON THE EAST OF GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT. >> LIKE JOHN PREET OF NAPLES, HAPPY THEY'RE JUMPING IN TO HELP OUT AND I THINK PASSENGERS SHOULD BE HAPPY BECAUSE THE JUST GONNA HELP PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET MOVED THROUGH THE LINES QUICKER YOU KNOW, IT. YOU CAN'T HAVE JUST 3 TSA AGENTS. >> GET OUT OF AS MUCH OF A FULL COMPLIMENT AS POSSIBLE. >> SO IF THEY CAN HELP OUT, I MEAN, MORE POWER TO HIM. >> KENNETH ROBERTS SHARED HIS ADVICE FOR SMITH TRAVELING. >> I'VE BEEN TRAVELING REGULARLY MY WHOLE CAREER. AND SO YOU JUST LEARN WHETHER IT'S A WEATHER DELAY OR THIS KIND OF DELAY OR WHATEVER YOU JUST KIND OF HAVE TO ROLL WITH IT. YEAH. GETTING UPSET OR NERVOUS. DOESN'T GET YOUR KNEE THERE ANY FASTER. >> IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THE ICE AGENTS WILL BE PATROLLING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OR WHEN THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WILL END FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M YOUN JOO PARK. >> ACCORDING TO A HOMELAND SECURITY ICE OFFICERS ARE RECEIVING TSA TRAINING TO HELP VERIFY IDENTIFICATION TO ASSIST WITH