The state of airports and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in our country is not only a nuisance for so many people; it’s frightening. We need to be more concerned about our government’s inaction to end this government shutdown.
A partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14 due to funds lapsing and is still affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including TSA. The agencies are now operating without full funding, as about 50,000 TSA employees are working without pay. As of this week, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been deployed to 14 airports to help during the DHS shutdown. Airport wait times are increasingly affecting travelers and U.S. citizens are not able to fly domestically on time in certain states. Right now, it’s uncertain whether lawmakers will reach an agreement and end this partial shutdown, which would restore funding to both DHS and TSA.
President Donald Trump has said he won’t make a DHS funding deal until Democrats support the “SAVE America Act.” This requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, along with photo identification to vote in federal elections. Democrats are opposing this bill at the moment because they claim it would create unnecessary barriers to voting.
Congress also failed to pass a bill that would temporarily fund TSA workers and not all of DHS, which has led to the state of airports we’re seeing today. As of March 24, Trump is refusing endorsement of the GOP’s proposed deal to end the shutdown. It’s one thing for political parties in Congress to be opposing each other and blocking bills from passing; this happens all the time. It’s another when the president refuses to support either party in attempting to end the critical situation TSA is facing.
ICE has incited fear all over the country and DHS procedures of implementing the mass deportation plan of the Trump administration have received overwhelming backlash and condemnation from many Americans. Deploying ICE agents may not be a direct way of carrying out a mass deportation order, but it is undoubtedly intimidating. This action places American citizens under a new type of scrutiny and surveillance in an environment where it isn’t expected. It’s similar to the approach in increasing security in NYC subways that New York Governor Kathy Hochul used when she deployed National Guard troops to NYC subway platforms. However, the lack of efficiency within several airports in this country raises questions beyond law enforcement and traveler convenience.
Flying on airplanes and traveling far distances are not natural human rights, but the ability to travel and migrate is a freedom. In “The Handmaid’s Tale” television series, an adaptation of the novel by Margaret Atwood, an extremist group takes over the government and systematically takes away freedoms, starting with the ability to travel. All borders are closed off to prevent American citizens from leaving the country and airports are shut down. In the show, this rapid and chaotic closure of borders and restriction of travel are crucial in the turnover of a new oppressive regime. When this happens in the show, airports become overcrowded. Watching the news and seeing the same today in New Orleans and Houston, this parallel to “The Handmaid’s Tale” came to mind.
I’m not saying our country is undergoing an extreme regime change, but what I’m trying to call attention to is that the ability to travel is an incredibly significant freedom. Until 1991, Albania was under the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha and he stopped people from leaving the country as a way of isolating the people under his regime. Borders were heavily guarded and were called “death zones.” Unauthorized travel was outlawed and border patrol was instructed to kill anyone trying to flee into Greece or other bordering states. A specialized border force and heavy surveillance by the secret police were created in order to control the population. Again, I am not saying our country is under a dictatorship, but this historical example is just one that we should reflect on.
It’s important to understand what our freedoms are as American citizens. Humans aren’t inherently granted the right to travel, but it’s a fundamental freedom due to its symbolization of personal liberty, support of economic opportunity and enabling of other democratic rights. When we see our government fail to protect this freedom and fight for its citizens, we should be concerned and take action. TSA workers should never be working without pay, especially not in a country that is considered the “leader of the free world.” Congressional members should be compromising for the sake of their constituents, not refusing to reach an agreement because of other political matters. Both parties are placing the blame on the other, but as American citizens, we need to collectively blame all of our leaders because they’re failing us. The situation we’re in now could keep escalating and worsen, but hopefully, we will see a resolution soon.
