The Trump administration plans to restart the Global Entry program on Wednesday, just weeks after it paused the program because of a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
Global Entry allows for American citizens and legal permanent residents traveling internationally to receive expedited processing upon their return to the United States. Travelers who sign up for the program must pay a fee, are vetted and retain the privilege for up to five years.
In a statement, the department said it was restoring the program after evaluating the implications of the shutdown, for which it blamed Democrats.
In recent days, reports of extensive delays at airports have been highlighted by the agency as they seek to blame Democratic opposition to funding the department. Democratic lawmakers have said they are seeking changes to the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency under the Homeland Security Department, has been conducting immigration enforcement.
The decision to pause the program was surprising because the department has previously encouraged Americans to enroll. “Your time is valuable,” read one agency site urging people to sign up. “As a prescreened Global Entry member, you arrive in the United States, check-in at the Global Entry kiosk and you’re on your way. So what are you waiting for?”
The Homeland Security Department had said in late February that it would pause its T.S.A. PreCheck and Global Entry programs to “refocus department personnel on the majority of travelers.” It quickly reversed course on PreCheck, an expedited security-screening program operated by the Transportation Security Administration, which is affected by the shutdown.
The moves are among several measures the department is taking after its funding lapsed on Feb. 14. Lawmakers have been deadlocked over a proposal to restore funding.
Democrats have refused to approve the department’s budget unless Republicans accept a range of new restrictions on immigration agents. Those include requiring agents to obtain warrants from judges to make arrests in homes, mandating that they show visible identification and prohibiting face coverings for agents. Republicans have objected to many of the demands, which they consider overly burdensome.
Although homeland security funding has lapsed, most of its operations are still being carried out, and department leaders have said that essential functions will continue. ICE and Customs and Border Protection are not expected to be affected unless the shutdown is prolonged.
Hamed Aleaziz covers the Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy for The Times.
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