U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are expected to be deployed at Pittsburgh International Airport today, according to airport officials.
This development follows quickly on the heels of President Donald Trump’s announcement yesterday that ICE agents would be deployed at airports across the country to help federal Transportation Security Administration staff move travelers through security lines. Those queues have seen hours-long waits in recent weeks, as TSA staff have been without pay due to a budget impasse and Department of Homeland Security shutdown that started February 14.
“Federal agents have not announced the exact plans for how ICE will operate at airports, but our leadership team remains in close contact with our federal partners at TSA,” according to a statement by the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situations and stay in contact with our law enforcement partnership,” the statement continued.
According to Pittsburgh International’s public affairs director Bob Kerlik, no ICE agents had been seen at the airport as of 8:45 a.m. Monday, but they are expected at some point later in the day.
Security wait times at the airport were under 10 minutes on Monday morning.
Border czar Tom Homan says ICE agents will help the Transportation Security Administration “move those lines” while also enforcing immigration law.