Traveling through Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP) may become more time consuming for passengers due to additional screening over the next few weeks.
ICE Will Patrol MSP Airport for Three Weeks
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be expanding their operations in the greater Minneapolis area, this time to the airport. As reported by KMSP FOX 9, ICE agents will spend three weeks at the airport, checking and verifying the documents of passengers and employees.
The information was included in a memo that was shared by an employee at the airport. According to the memo, ICE will patrol the airport, including jet bridges, as part of the enforcement effort.
While there is little information currently available on this situation, a representative from the airport acknowledged that federal agents have broad access to the property and the airport does not receive any advance notice of their actions:
“Neither the Metropolitan Airports Commission nor the MSP Airport Police Department receive advance notice of or coordinate immigration enforcement activity at the airport. Federal regulations provide federal agents with broad access to MSP Airport property. This includes access to the airfield, pre- and post-security areas in the terminals and public spaces like parking ramps and lots.”
It’s worth noting that identification is necessary to get airside at any airport in the United States, a valid Passport, Real ID, or other form of identification is required, which is intended to prove citizenship. Passengers should have all of the necessary documentation on their person when traveling so this hopefully will be a minor inconvenience for travelers.
While U.S. citizens are not required to show ID to ICE agents, federal law requires that green card holders carry their ID card with them at all times.
What Impact Will This Have on Travel?
With ICE checking documentation of both passengers and employees, it is safe to assume that there may be some minor delays and inconveniences over the next few weeks for those traveling to, from, and through MSP.
Delta is the largest carrier at MSP and will likely have the most affected passengers given the number of international flights it operates to and from the airport. At the time of publication, Delta does not have any open advisories related to MSP travel.
As far as operations at the airport, it will be interesting to see if we see a spike in employees calling out as a result of an increased ICE presence at the airport or if operations will be able to continue unimpeded.
Summary
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are reportedly patrolling MSP Airport for the next three weeks. Passengers traveling through the airport may be stopped for document checks and airport employees and other individuals on airport property are also subject to these document checks.