ICE agents to be deployed at Philadelphia International Airport, sources say

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Sources tell ABC News that hundreds of ICE agents are expected at 14 airports this week, including Philadelphia International Airport.

The Trump administration is deploying the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as Transportation Security Administration officers continue to work without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown.

The move comes as hundreds of TSA officers have quit and thousands continue to call out.

Other airports where ICE will be deployed, according to ABC News, include:

– Chicago-O’Hare International Airport

– Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

– Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

– Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport

– Houston’s Bush Interncontinental Airport

– John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)

– LaGuardia Airport (New York)

– Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

– Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

– Newark Liberty International Airport

– Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

– Pittsburgh International Airport

– Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Florida)

While ICE agents haven’t been seen working in Philadelphia as of Monday, they have been spotted in airports in Atlanta and Newark.

Lashanda Palmer is with AFGE Local 333, the union that represents TSA employees at PHL. She says her officers are concerned about this move, especially as they handle mounting financial stress.

“I don’t know when they’re going to start. I don’t know anything. But I do know they were there. They were not working in any capacity,” Palmer told Action News on Monday.

“We’re not being paid. The one agency that you guys are arguing and fighting about is being paid, and being paid well. And now you’re about to bring them into the airports,” she added.

Passenger lines at the airport fluctuated throughout the day.

Many travelers said they arrived hours early, anticipating delays tied to the partial government shutdown and staffing shortages at the TSA.

Jeff Trainer of Allentown, Pennsylvania, said his family arrived well before dawn to avoid potential problems.

“Get up at one. He’s like, ‘What are you, crazy?’ I said nope, we were one of the first ones here,” he said.

Breckyn Loynd of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, said concerns about long waits prompted her and her friends to arrive early.

“We were really scared, we didn’t want to be waiting in line for two hours. I’d rather be here early and be in the front of the line,” said Loynd.

The partial government shutdown has entered its third week, and TSA agents remain without pay. Some have called out of work, and more than 400 have quit, contributing to busier airports nationwide.

Tasha Johnson of West Philadelphia said reports of lengthy lines influenced her decision to plan ahead.

“I heard people were standing in line for four hours and still missing their flights, and I was like, that’s not going to be me,” she said.

At one point, the security line at Philadelphia International Airport stretched back to the parking garage at Terminal A-East. For much of the morning, however, lines moved quickly.

Shawn Walker of Abington, Pennsylvania, said warnings about airport delays led him to arrive earlier than usual.

“The warning signs were out there. We knew we had to get here three hours before our flight. We woke up early, and we’re here. It’s not too bad, not as bad as I anticipated,” Walker said.

Meeshach Stennett of Smyrna, Delaware, said he hopes the situation does not further disrupt travelers.

“I hope it doesn’t disrupt people’s lives, Americans that are trying to travel. I hope this ends soon. These TSA workers don’t deserve this,” said Stennett.

Some travelers expressed uncertainty about whether ICE agents would be present.

“I was actually hoping maybe Elon paid for some of the people to come in to work, but I don’t know what’s going on. I wasn’t sure if they’d be here or not,” said Stacey Peev of East Greenville, Pennsylvania.

If the government shutdown is not resolved by Friday, TSA agents will have gone three weeks without pay.