Originally Posted by
CitizenTerrorist
You went into it knowing that nothing was going to be available for a while. The federal government closed early on that Friday and were announcing closings at least a day in advance. Everyone expected the worst. Everyone knew transportation was going to be crippled.
Just 4 years ago NYC experienced a record breaking snowfall and while there were snags and delays, the city kept functioning relatively well. LIRR canceled some service, metro did as well, there were delays. But, by and large the city kept operating and essential personnel were able to get to work. Sunday, however, the city shut down. It was an unmitigated disaster with no one able to get anywhere. While the snow wasn't unexpected, the dismal response by the city was.
No pass. Providing essential services (including disembarking scheduled aircraft) is what the government is supposed to be doing. When governments decide that the way to respond to a predictable emergency is to announce they are closing early and for the duration, you have New Orleans during Katrina. Nothing, but nothing, excuses that.
Originally Posted by
CitizenTerrorist
But, really, that's all beside the point I was trying to make. Even if every CBP officer was an essential employee and even if a number of them failed to show it's still beside the point. The point I was trying to make is that I HIGHLY doubt this is even remotely attributable to CBP. This is coming from someone who thinks border searches are largely ridiculous and who thinks DHS from the top down is a joke of an organization.
I'm saying the delays on the tarmac were most likely a combination of dozens of factors with CBP potentially being one of those factors. It's easy to latch onto a DHS agency because no one (myself included) has any particular love for them. In the final analysis I bet they were low on the list of adverse factors that caused this, though.
CBP was THE cause international passengers got stuck in aircraft. They knew those aircraft were coming in. CBP staff should not have been released until the last passenger was processed. Not that I absolve any other agencies of failure to carry out their respective responsibilities, but processing incoming international flights is CBP's responsibility. If that meant they were ultimately stuck in the airport with the rest of the unwashed masses, too bad.
~~ Irish