Security lines at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport moved more smoothly Sunday after travelers experienced wait times of up to five hours the previous day. Airport officials recommend travelers arrive at least three hours before their scheduled departure as lines, while improved, could still fluctuate.
Travelers pleasantly surprised by shorter lines Sunday
Sunday’s operations at BWI-Marshall appeared much more typical, with the terminal almost empty and significantly shorter security lines compared to Friday and Saturday. Travelers expressed relief at the improvement.
“Southwest sent out an alert that said four hours early at 6 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., they dropped it to two hours earlier,” said one traveler, Tim. Another traveler, Marcus, said, “I honestly have been seeing a lot of negative things, so seeing this moving along is giving me hope that it is going to be smooth.”
Electronic signs at the airport still advised travelers of longer-than-normal wait times at security checkpoints.
What are ICE officers doing?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel were deployed to BWI-Marshall on Saturday afternoon to provide operational support to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) stated that ICE personnel, including Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), will assist TSA security checkpoints, similar to deployments at other airports.
MAA emphasized that primary aviation security functions, such as passenger and baggage screening, will remain the responsibility of trained TSA personnel. ICE’s role is to provide support to expedite the passenger clearance process.
The MAA stated it was informed by the TSA that ICE’s primary focus is security operations, not immigration enforcement, during their deployment. Traveler Mary Stark noted, “I see ICE running around here, and I thank them for being here and I thank the TSA workers that are here. Other than that, this is not a happy place.”
Turmoil amid TSA callouts
The president signed an executive order Friday to find funds to pay TSA workers during the partial federal government shutdown. An estimate indicates 50,000 employees will start receiving paychecks as soon as Monday, though it remains unclear how many will report for work.
At BWI-Marshall, more than 100 out of 140 TSA workers called out at one point. Nationwide, approximately 500 TSA workers have quit. TSA worker union leaders reported that some members are facing eviction notices and are forced to seek additional employment to make ends meet.
Travelers stuck waiting four lines deep Saturday
Saturday saw significant frustration at BWI-Marshall, with security lines extending inside and outside the airport. At times, the sidewalk was lined with four lines of travelers. “I can’t believe this is really happening. Why didn’t you sign to pay the TSA workers? Why are you putting your country in harm’s way?” traveler Catherine Cain said.
The airport urged travelers to arrive at least five hours before their flight. One traveler, Maizie Horne, stated, “Our flight is in three hours. We think this will probably take longer. So, we’re trying to actually figure out booking a new flight.” People rebooked flights while waiting in line at security Checkpoint C, which was often the only checkpoint open, though Checkpoint B opened briefly Saturday evening. Some travelers reported waiting five hours in line.
Travelers’ frustrations with government boil over
Travelers voiced their frustrations with the federal government. “I find that really just sickening. They don’t care about people. It’s just very self-centered. So, I blame it on the politicians,” said Stark. Another traveler, Dave McCarthy, stated, “It’s just a real shame that the average middle-class American has to go through this. I never thought I would see it in my lifetime. It’s an absolute travesty.”
Shannetta Griffin, the airport’s executive director and CEO, said in a statement: “We thank our passengers for their patience as we work with stakeholders to support safe, efficient travel. We’re grateful to our TSA agents, BWI personnel, concessions employees, and other workers who are keeping BWI operational during this challenging time.”
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