On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced the deployment of U.S. Air Marshals to lend a hand to the Border Patrol. Earlier this month, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas wouldn’t even acknowledge a crisis at the border. Still, the administration seems to know that’s not true.
U.S. Marshals that have already been deployed are already sick of the menial tasks they’ve been given to “assist” in the failed border policies of this administration.
Some Marshals have reported performing non-law enforcement tasks at the border, like hospital watches, transportation and janitorial work. The Transportation Security Administration denies these characterizations of the assignments given to air marshals at the southern border, saying the description of work they are given “does not reflect the critical and professional law enforcement role these officers perform.” Isn’t that the whole point? Someone is lying here, and it’s unlikely the underdog officers who are risking a lot by coming forward.
Shifting Air Marshals from the task of securing our air travel to chauffeuring illegal aliens is dangerous. It leaves our airways in the same way Biden has left our Southern border – undefended and vulnerable.https://t.co/QSGpoYV2Bm
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 29, 2022
Air Marshal National Council President David Londo, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday morning that a “mutiny” is brewing among marshals who worry about airline safety during the busiest travel season of the year. Londo said the rank-and-file marshals would instead refuse to deploy and risk termination. “You’re almost going to have a mutiny of a federal agency, which is unheard of,” he said. Deployment would leave one-eighth of the typical marshal force in the air — one federal agent for every 100 domestic flights.
Many agents are willing to be terminated in defiance of mistreatment of duty. “Morale is so destroyed from this,” said Londo. In response to the deployment plan, Londo sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas urging the DHS not to leave the “friendly skies” unmonitored over the holidays. The letter reflects statistical data on unruly passengers, investigations initiated, enforcement actions taken, and references to two attempted attacks since 9-11 during the holiday season.
The National Association of Police Organizations has spoken words of support for the air marshals too. “The Federal Air Marshal Service is understaffed and covering the fewest number of flights since before September 11, 2001. We strongly question the decision by the Department of Homeland Security to divert much-needed aviation security to the southern border… as a federal emergency has not been declared,” said NAPO. Secretary Mayorkas did not respond to the comments; it was more important to assure the public that the marshals were not doing janitorial work.
As an air marshal rebellion looms, the council works with the DHS Office of Inspector General to begin an official federal investigation. The news of an air marshal mutiny comes just after national rail strike announcements that could plague national supply chains if federal efforts to force an agreement don’t work out as planned.
Biden’s administration is clearly excelling at fanning the flames of national chaos.
