ICE floods airports
ICE agents have been deployed to major U.S. airports amid a partial DHS shutdown, increasing enforcement visibility at TSA checkpoints and raising travel risks for non‑citizens — TSA staff are unpaid while ICE remains on duty. Passenger delays and heightened enforcement could complicate travel for clients with pending cases or appointments. (cbs8.com)
Federal immigration and HSI officers were reported at 14 airports this week, with published lists naming Hartsfield‑Jackson (ATL), O’Hare (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Houston Hobby (HOU), Fort Myers (RSW), New Orleans (MSY), JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), Pittsburgh (PIT) and San Juan (SJU). (newsweek.com)) The Department of Homeland Security confirmed it had begun deploying “hundreds” of ICE personnel to assist at strained hubs, while NBC reported senior ICE officials saying at least 50 ICE staff per shift would be stationed at each affected airport. (usnews.com)) Agency statements and local reporting indicate the deployed ICE/HSI officers are performing site‑security tasks — monitoring exit lanes, making routine passenger announcements and managing queues — and are not operating X‑ray machines or magnetometers used for screening. (newsweek.com)) DHS data show more than 450 TSA officers have quit since the partial DHS funding lapse that began Feb. 14, and callout rates spiked to roughly 11.8% (over 3,200 officers calling out) at points last week, exacerbating staffing shortfalls at several major hubs. (apnews.com)) White House border czar Tom Homan said the deployments would begin Monday, and President Trump has publicly vowed the officers will remain “as long as it takes,” also suggesting they not wear masks while on duty in his posts and interviews. (cnbc.com)) Mayors and civil‑liberties groups have raised alarm, with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson saying city officials will closely monitor the deployments and national advocates warning armed federal officers at public checkpoints risk chilling travel. (newsweek.com)) U.S. officials point out routine immigration arrests at domestic boarding gates are limited because most domestic travel requires Real ID or passports, a factor cited by airport and ICE sources as constraining large‑scale apprehensions at screening lines. (nbcnews.com))
