Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been deployed to Pittsburgh International Airport to help with the Transportation Security Administration.ICE agents were seen in uniform at the airport Tuesday. (Watch the video above.) One day earlier, federal immigration officers were in plain clothes for training Monday.This comes after President Donald Trump announced ICE agents would be deployed to airports across the country to help with the TSA.TSA officers have been working without pay for over a month due to the partial government shutdown.DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “This pointless, reckless shutdown of our Homeland Security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work.”Bis said that Pittsburgh International TSA had a call-out rate of more than 24% on Sunday.Philip Glover, national vice president for AFGE District 3, which covers Pennsylvania and Delaware, confirmed that 14 ICE agents were sent to the Pittsburgh airport.”The Congress and the White House, they need to sit down and knock this thing out and get these people at FEMA, TSA and Coast Guard paid,” Glover told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “This is crazy. This is the second more-than-30-day shutdown we’ve had since November. This is not right, and it’s not fair to people that work for a living and have bills to pay.”Glover said that TSA officers have informed him that ICE agents will be tasked with checking documents before passengers proceed through airport security and managing various exits and entrances. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with travelers at the airport about the situation.”This is people’s livelihood. They’re using politics to basically make a statement, and it’s hurting people’s lives, and it’s hurting the country as far as I’m concerned,” Rick Manilla said.”I think it’s a good idea. Keep things moving. And if they want to help out, let them help out,” Judy Hopper of Murrysville said.Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato also released a statement about ICE agents at the airport:”Just like Allegheny County does not need ICE agents patrolling our neighborhoods, we don’t need ICE at the airport where TSA lines have remained short and manageable. Sending ICE into our public spaces and communities is never about safety and security threats and has led to racial profiling and harassment of our neighbors. Local ICE agents should skip the Pittsburgh International Airport, which is not requesting help. Instead, ICE should investigate why a Haitian refugee in their custody died hours after she was released in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, and ensure tragedies like that don’t happen in Allegheny County again.” While Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 crews were at the airport from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the average time estimate for airport security stayed under five minutes.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

PITTSBURGH —

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been deployed to Pittsburgh International Airport to help with the Transportation Security Administration.

ICE agents were seen in uniform at the airport Tuesday. (Watch the video above.) One day earlier, federal immigration officers were in plain clothes for training Monday.

This comes after President Donald Trump announced ICE agents would be deployed to airports across the country to help with the TSA.

TSA officers have been working without pay for over a month due to the partial government shutdown.

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “This pointless, reckless shutdown of our Homeland Security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work.”

Bis said that Pittsburgh International TSA had a call-out rate of more than 24% on Sunday.

Philip Glover, national vice president for AFGE District 3, which covers Pennsylvania and Delaware, confirmed that 14 ICE agents were sent to the Pittsburgh airport.

“The Congress and the White House, they need to sit down and knock this thing out and get these people at FEMA, TSA and Coast Guard paid,” Glover told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “This is crazy. This is the second more-than-30-day shutdown we’ve had since November. This is not right, and it’s not fair to people that work for a living and have bills to pay.”

Glover said that TSA officers have informed him that ICE agents will be tasked with checking documents before passengers proceed through airport security and managing various exits and entrances.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with travelers at the airport about the situation.

“This is people’s livelihood. They’re using politics to basically make a statement, and it’s hurting people’s lives, and it’s hurting the country as far as I’m concerned,” Rick Manilla said.

“I think it’s a good idea. Keep things moving. And if they want to help out, let them help out,” Judy Hopper of Murrysville said.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato also released a statement about ICE agents at the airport:

“Just like Allegheny County does not need ICE agents patrolling our neighborhoods, we don’t need ICE at the airport where TSA lines have remained short and manageable. Sending ICE into our public spaces and communities is never about safety and security threats and has led to racial profiling and harassment of our neighbors. Local ICE agents should skip the Pittsburgh International Airport, which is not requesting help. Instead, ICE should investigate why a Haitian refugee in their custody died hours after she was released in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, and ensure tragedies like that don’t happen in Allegheny County again.”

While Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 crews were at the airport from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the average time estimate for airport security stayed under five minutes.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.