Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have begun leaving some U.S. airports.
According to CNN, agents completed their checkpoint duties at some of the 14 airports President Trump deployed them to last month.
A partial government shutdown left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers without pay, leading many to resign or call out. The shortage of workers and long lines were cited as reasons for ICE’s deployment.
But since President Trump announced TSA workers would be getting paid again, lines have subsided, and some agents have begun leaving.
Airports that have confirmed ICE agents are gone, according to CNN, are:
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Pittsburgh International Airport
Is ICE at IAH and HOU?
Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport were the only two airports in Texas ICE agents were deployed to.
As of now, Houston airport officials have not released any confirmation about ICE’s status at their airports.
Houston’s Bush Airport had some of the worst wait times during the partial shutdown last month. Wait times there reached over four hours. Meanwhile, Houston’s smaller hub, Hobby airport, had wait times of about 10 minutes.
Are ICE agents at other airports?
It’s possible ICE agents could still be at airports where shortages are still ongoing.
According to the New York Times, over 500 TSA workers quit during the partial shutdown. More than 50,000 have gotten paid.
CNN is reporting ICE agents may continue to conduct enforcement operations in the terminals. And last month, White House Border Czar, Tom Homan, told the media agents would stick around “until airports feel 100 percent.”
During the partial shutdown, agents mainly checked identification and managed crowds. They are not trained to do everything TSA officers do.
