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The task of the TSA workers, who, according to one source, will include air marshals, will be temporarily assisting with immigration related tasks. The TSA acknowledged in an internal email that the "immediate need" was to accept "some risk" of depleted resources in aviation security.
The TSA predicts that deployments will involve up to 175 law enforcement officials and up to "400 security personnel," according to two sources and the e-mail. At least initially, efforts will not concern uniformed airport screening officers, according to the e-mail, which indicates that some parts of the TSA would be invited to provide "about 10%" of its workforce.
"There is an immediate need for additional help from TSA on the Southwest border," senior TSA official Gary Renfrow wrote in an e-mail to the regional director of the TSA. ;agency. "The TSA is committed to supporting 400 Security Ops people" who will be deployed in waves "similar to hurricane assistance of the past".
"We also understand that we accept some risks as we enter a busy summer," Renfrow wrote, calling the effort "an additional challenge".
The initial law enforcement teams will come from six cities, according to a source close to the plans.
Department of Homeland Security spokesman referred the questions to TSA. After this story, TSA spokesperson Jenny Burke said in a statement: "Like all components of DHS, TSA supports DHS efforts to address the humanitarian and security crisis in the world. South-West Frontier: The TSA is currently soliciting volunteers for this effort while minimizing the operational impact. "
While screening of checkpoints at airports is perhaps the most visible part of TSA, Juliette Kayyem, a former DHS manager and analyst at CNN, said that these deployments would attract employees to significant work. in the fields of security. "These are extensive airports, monitoring activities inside and outside the security line, they support local and state law enforcement," she said. declared.
Nielsen was replaced by Kevin McAleenan, who led US Customs and Border Protection, and TSA Administrator David Pekoske was selected as McAleenan's deputy.
This placed Pekoske in a leading position within the department, and the recent e-mail asking for TSA volunteers notes his dual role and describes the border effort as "a high priority for DHS and our administrator ".
The deployment will initially include about 42 law enforcement officials and will increase to about 175 people, the source said. Officials expect the contingent to eventually include federal airmen who usually wear civilian clothes on commercial flights to prevent terrorist attacks.
According to the source, some visible intermodal prevention and response teams, or VIPRs, should also be deployed. These teams are uniform patrols of busy transportation hubs such as airports and train stations.
This deployment would result in a decrease of approximately 8% in Federal Air Force operations and 20% in VIPR patrol operations, according to the source, which indicated that the TSA currently has approximately 31 VIPR teams.
After legal training, law enforcement officials will be designated as immigration officers and will assist customs and border officials and officers in their work, according to a source familiar with the plans.
The e-mail indicates that the bulk of the deployment will be staff members other than the screening officers working for TSA's federal security directors. The second priority will be the inspectors. A 2018 posting on the TSA website describes this work as "conducting inspections, assessments, and investigations of airlines and individuals to determine their compliance with the regulations".
Nielsen's April note specified several areas of border needs, such as transportation, meal distribution and health care. Some jobs require specialized experience, such as medical or legal training.
Deployments will last between 45 and 60 days, "although it may be longer," says the e-mail.
He emphasizes in bold capital letters that the transport security officers in charge of security checkpoints at airports should not be sent to the border. "NO UNIFORM MOMENT OF CANINE MANIPULATORS IS ELIGIBLE AT THIS TIME," says the e-mail.
Priscilla Alvarez from CNN contributed to this report.
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