El Paso officials slam DHS government shutdown video at airport

El Paso elected officials are criticizing a new video greeting guests to the El Paso International Airport.

The video, now enjoying on a loop in airports across the United States, options U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem condemning Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, despite the fact that Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House.

While the video has already raised the ire of vacationers and airport officials nationwide, three El Paso City Council members joined the refrain on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

In a letter, El Paso metropolis Reps. Alejandra Chavez, Josh Acevedo and Deanna Maldonado-Rocha condemned what they called a “distraction” that “is keeping people from getting back to work and, more importantly, getting paid and providing for their families.”

“The city of El Paso was not consulted or made aware of a decision to play this video,” the trio wrote. “It is our understanding that we have a lease agreement with (the Transportation Security Administration) for office space at EPIA, but there is no agreement for the security checkpoint area, which is governed by both TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).”

As such, our constituents are wanting for reasoning, accountability, and clarification on TSA’s choice to show this content,” they continued. “Our precedence as your local government, and as non-partisan elected officials, is to stay apolitical while making certain that City and TSA workers preserve great customer support, security, and security.”

The city representatives are also alleging that the video may represent a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal officials, including Cabinet secretaries, from engaging in political activity while acting in their official role.

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For its part, the El Paso County Democratic Party is calling for the El Paso airport to stop airing the video and is urging citizens to lead the push.

“You could have heard that Kristi Noem and the Trump administration have launched a deceptive video about the Republican-led federal government shutdown,” El Paso County Democratic Party Chair Michael Apodaca wrote in an email. “While a number of Texas airports are opposing the administration’s doubtlessly illegal actions, we need our airport to do the same.”

“We must urge our El Paso City Council to continue demanding the removing of this video from our airport and to stand up for our group values.”

While multiple airports across the country have already opted not to air the video, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, El Paso International Airport spokesperson Tammy Fonce asserted that the video is beyond local control.

“The El Paso International Airport is just not airing the DHS video,” she said in an email. “The video is being aired by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on tools and in an space that is under the control of the TSA.”

“The TSA Checkpoint Requirements and Planning Guide explains that TSA has operational control over all security checkpoint areas in U.S. airports throughout the doc,” Fonce added. “It notes that TSA manages the tools and signage within those federally managed areas.”

Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.

This article initially appeared on El Paso Times: Democrats demand El Paso airport pull shutdown video