Donald Trump deployed ICE agents today to airports to “support” TSA as reduced staff struggle to manage long lines at security checkpoints. While his administration appears to have no clear plan on what exactly ICE will do, one choice does look intentional: Trump does not want agents to wear masks at airports.
“I didn’t think it was an appropriate look for an airport,” Trump said today regarding his decision on masks. “I think it’s a very appropriate look when they’re out on the street trying to find one of the 11,888 murderers that Sleepy Joe Biden let into the country.”
This is key to understanding Trump’s manufactured war against immigrant communities and blue cities—but not against all travelers at airports. As Mother Jones’ Inae Oh astutely points out:
The president was admitting to the outsize role that aesthetics have played as ICE terrorizes communities across the country. It’s this blend of violence and optics he clearly wants to keep from a certain class of Americans.
I highly recommend you read Inae’s thoughts on the dynamic here.
—Alex Nguyen
P.S. As ICE agents fan out across US airports, we're wondering what TSA agents—who aren't getting paid while ICE officers are—think about their new colleagues. So if you're a TSA worker or have an adjacent perspective to share, let us know. We'd love to hear from you.
