ICE agents deployed to over a dozen US airports as partial government shutdown triggers delays
So far, no California airports are on the list of locations where ICE agents have been deployed to help TSA with security.
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- On Monday, President Donald Trump deployed ICE agents to airports to help TSA with security amid an ongoing partial government shutdown.
The shutdown has sidelined Transportation Security Administration officers and has caused long lines at security checkpoints across the country. Travelers are being warned to expect delays as TSA agents working without pay for over a month call out sick or even quit.
A spokesperson for Orange County's John Wayne Airport said local officials were working with their federal counterparts.
"Responsibility for the Transportation Security Administration, including staffing levels and resources, are determined at the federal level. We remain in close communication with our federal partners to receive information on efforts to mitigate potential impacts to travelers at John Wayne Airport," airport Public Information Officer AnnaSophia Servin told City News Service.
Trump's decision to order federal immigration agents to U.S. airports to help with security during a budget impasse is drawing concerns that their presence may escalate tensions among air travelers frustrated over hourslong waits and screeners angry about missed paychecks.
"I think a lot of people are realizing that something needs to happen. Whether it's ICE agents or TSA... I think, ICE, however you feel about them, they are probably trained in checking for people's IDs and things to get on an airplane and travel safely. So I'm OK with that if that helps relieve, you know," said Leann Tweeden, a traveler at LAX.
ABC News obtained a list of airports where ICE has been deployed, with the list subject to change, according to sources. At this time, there are no L.A.-area or California airports on the list.
Airports, so far, include:
- Chicago-O'Hare International Airport
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Houston's William P. Hobby Airport
- Houston's Bush Intercontinental
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
- LaGuardia Airport (New York)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
- Newark Liberty International Airport
- Philadelphia International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Florida)
At LAX, things appeared to be running smoothly, although security lines were pretty long in some terminals on Monday following record TSA call-outs over the weekend. At Terminal 7, wait times were relatively short, but on the opposite side at Terminal 1, travelers reported longer-than-anticipated wait times. Still, wait times were not nearly as extreme as those seen at other U.S. airports.
"We didn't notice any changes. There were a lot of police at the airport today, which was unusual. But no, nothing. We didn't see any ICE agents," said Lauren Stabile, who traveled from Chicago to LAX.
"We did not see any ICE agents. We were concerned, but we were more concerned about the construction outside of O'Hare Airport. So we did really well," said traveler Marilym Pohm, who also traveled from Chicago to L.A. on Monday.
Cellphone video of people lined up for hours at airports like Atlanta scared one Riverside family into showing up extra, extra early.
"And so now we're here like five hours early," the mother of the family said.
They were so early, they had to find a pre-security perch to wait at.
"You can't check your bags in until three hours before your flight, so we came way too early," the father said.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) was among those hit hardest by staffing shortages. More than 21% of TSA agents there did not report for work on Saturday, according to TSA data. Travelers at the airport on Sunday said they prepared for delays by arriving early, though many reported smooth experiences at other airports, including Sacramento, Reno and Salt Lake City.
Trump made clear on Sunday that he was going ahead with the plan to have immigration enforcement officers assist the Transportation Security Administration by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs unless Democrats agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are demanding major changes to federal immigration operations and showing no sign of backing down.
Hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers, including those from the TSA, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard, have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew DHS funding last month.
Lawmakers say that they are working to get TSA agents paid, but so far, there's been a standstill as Democrats demand immigration enforcement reforms. Some, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, are blasting the idea of deploying ICE agents to airports, saying they are not trained or certified in aviation security.
"By sending ICE into airports, Trump is proving the problem in real time: ICE has become the president's lawless, under-trained, personal police force, deployed to serve his agenda - not the law," Newsom said in a post on X.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the decision to use ICE agents at airports, saying they are trained to operate screening equipment.
On Monday, Trump hinted that he would also deploy the National Guard if needed.
ABC News, City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
