A union representing Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport workers says greater than a dozen staff have been apprehended by ICE on the job — typically contained in the terminal.
Wade Luneburg with the Unite Right here Native 17 union represents 1,600 individuals working in airport concessions and in-flight catering. He says airport workers must move vigorous federal background checks to work on the airport.
Two individuals have been apprehended after popping out of labor at LSG Sky Cooks. The power is on Metropolitan Airports Fee property.
However most have been detained inside Terminal 1, the place passengers additionally enter and undergo safety.
“It appears clear that they got here via the TSA line after which have been shortly detained by ICE or Border Patrol or another legislation enforcement company on the again finish of safety after which simply taken away,” mentioned Luneburg. “I can affirm now we have staff, members of our union, which have handed 10-year background checks with TSA, so federal background checks that authorize them to work in that safe atmosphere, that after they’ve handed via that safety space, they have been taken away.”
Luneburg mentioned to their information, initially, ICE could have been in some sort of uniform with no badge, however they now perceive they could be working on the airport in plain garments.
Luneberg mentioned the continuing federal immigration enforcement is maintaining some staff at house and away from work, one thing vacationers are more likely to discover in the event that they’re flying, as it’s impacting staffing at concessionaires.
“Individuals are staying at house, they’re frightened of leaving their properties, they’re frightened of the backwards and forwards to work,” mentioned Luneburg.
WCCO reached out to the Division of Homeland Safety, asking about its operations at MSP, however has not heard again.
The Metropolitan Airports Fee has details about immigration enforcement on the airport right here.
