The two major airports in Houston are among several that ICE agents have been deployed to, a day after President Trump said he’d be sending them in.
HOUSTON — Federal immigration officers were seen at a handful of U.S. airports on Monday after President Donald Trump said he’d deploy them to supplement the Transportation Security Administration during a government shutdown that has caused long lines at security checkpoints across the country.
That includes both major Houston airports.
KHOU 11’s Julissa Garza was at Bush Airport Monday morning, where she spotted ICE agents. Bush had security wait times that were more than two hours long and stretched outside the doors at Terminal C. Meanwhile, CNN reported that Hobby Airport also has ICE agents present.
Below is a video Garza shot at Bush Airport, showing ICE agents.
What airports are ICE agents going to?
A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security says “hundreds” of officers will be deployed, but where they’re going isn’t being disclosed for what the government says are security reasons.
In New Orleans, WWL Louisiana reporter Mike McDaniel saw a group of ICE agents at Louis Armstrong International Airport on Monday morning. While they are not helping with passenger screening, they are assisting with crowd control and keeping lines moving.
12News crews at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport observed ICE agents walking around the airport Monday morning.
According to CNN, 13 U.S. airports had ICE agents at TSA checkpoints on Monday. The outlet reported those airports included:
While the list above doesn’t include Bush Airport, we have seen them there as well.
What are ICE agents going to do at airports?
Trump said Sunday that he would order federal immigration agents to airports to assist TSA by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs unless Democrats agreed to fund the DHS. Funding for the department lapsed Feb. 14, as Democrats refused to fund ICE as well as Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations in the wake of the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Trump on Monday directed ICE officers not to wear face coverings in their work at airports. In a social media post, Trump said he supported ICE officers wearing masks when dealing with “hardened criminals,” but suggested it isn’t necessary “when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports.”
Houston airports took top two spots in TSA agent callouts Saturday
Data released by the Department of Homeland Security shows absenteeism among Transportation Security Administration officers has surged nationwide, with callout rates topping 11.5% on Friday, March 21 — the highest recorded during the shutdown.
In Houston, the numbers were even more severe.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), 42.4% of TSA officers reportedly called out, while at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), that figure climbed to 47.4%, among the highest rates in the country.
Federal officials say the staffing shortages are contributing to long security lines and extended wait times for travelers, particularly during the busy spring break travel period.
According to DHS, TSA officers have now gone without pay for the third time in six months, creating financial strain that is impacting attendance.
“Many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars — forcing them to call out sick from work,” the agency said in a statement.
Over the past week, TSA callout rates have remained above 9% nationwide, with more than half of those days exceeding 10%, officials said.
Significant major airport TSA callouts for March 21:
JFK 33.4%BWI 29.4%PIT 23%PHL 21.5%MDW 29.1%LGA 17.3%IAH 42.4%HOU 47.4%ATL 33.6%MSY 34.1%
What travelers should know at Houston airports
Airport officials say operational changes are also in place that could further impact wait times.
At Bush Airport, TSA PreCheck is only available early in the day and will close at all terminals at 10:30 a.m. Standard screening is available in Terminals A, C and E.
At Hobby Airport, TSA is operating reduced screening lanes, which may increase wait times.
According to a social media post from Bush Airport, CLEAR will not be operating on Monday, March 23.
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