Spring break journey delays persist in DFW, nationwide, as TSA struggles throughout shutdown

As spring break travel winds down, airports throughout the nation are nonetheless coping with heavy crowds and lengthy safety strains, amid the partial authorities shutdown.

“It was really long, it was chaotic, honestly,” stated Stephanie Flores, who flew again house to DFW from Atlanta. “I think all the staff was already overwhelmed with everything.”

At DFW Airport, safety wait instances reached almost 50 minutes on Sunday, however some vacationers coming from Atlanta stated they spent three to 4 hours simply getting by way of safety.

“There were very long lines, like obviously it was just a bunch of crowded space, it was very overstimulating,” stated Adelaide Peters, who was touring along with her soccer crew.

While DFW did not see the worst of it, delays at different main hubs can create a ripple impact nationwide.

“There was a lot of confusion,” stated Andy Mahtani, who was in Atlanta visiting his daughter. “They were short-staffed; there was no one really to even explain what the process was.”

Since Feb.14, TSA employees have continued to report back to work with out pay through the partial shutdown. North Texas mom, Yara Sutton, stated her sons missed their flight in Atlanta due to the lengthy safety strains and needed to fly standby on a later flight.

“The TSA issue has been a mess,” Sutton stated. “I’m so frustrated. It was so, my head hurts. I’m so stressed out. It was a very stressful day today, just trying to get my kids back.”

President Trump is now calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers to be deployed at airports throughout the nation to help TSA employees. The administration stated ICE officers will endure some coaching between now and Monday.

“We don’t have any clearance, we don’t have no idea what their mission is going to be,” stated Johnny Jones, with the native chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees Union

Jones stated he believes TSA employees are getting used as political pawns.

“I definitely have to blame both sides of this equation,” stated Jones. “We’re asking for continued resolution. At this point, you got negotiations just failed, it’s time for a continued resolution to keep the government open, and additional funding to pay the TSA officers.”

CBS News Texas reached out to ICE, asking how brokers would help TSA and what that will appear to be. The company didn’t immediately reply the questions, however stated the transfer would “help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize travel disruptions.”

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