ICE agents arrive at Philly airport as part of national deployment by Trump administration
ICE agents were posted at the Terminal D TSA security checkpoint at PHL Tuesday morning.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrived at Philadelphia International Airport, one day after agents were deployed at other airports across the U.S.
At the Terminal D TSA security checkpoint Tuesday morning, at least five ICE agents wearing tactical vests with “POLICE ICE” emblazoned on the back stood in place observing the checkpoints.
Travelers walked by without giving the agents much attention.
The Trump administration is deploying ICE agents to 14 airports across the country as security wait times balloon due to a partial government shutdown that began on January 31.
It is unclear how many agents are being deployed to Philadelphia. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The move to send ICE agents to Philadelphia has drawn a sharp rebuke from some lawmakers, though Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has not commented publicly on the Trump administration’s move.
Councilmember Rue Landau, a Democrat who co-authored pending city legislation aimed at curtailing ICE operations in the city, said the federal government should “work with Congress to properly end the shutdown and let TSA workers return to their jobs.”
”ICE already makes many Philadelphians feel unsafe to leave their homes or engage with public resources," Landau said. “Adding ICE agents into the mix at the airport, a place where many immigrant residents already feel at risk, only adds to that fear.”
The shutdown is impacting the TSA, forcing agents to miss paychecks and leading to absences in Philadelphia and other airports. Over 24% of the roughly 900 TSA workers in Philadelphia called out Sunday, according to data provided by DHS, the most since the partial shutdown began last month.
TSA workers could miss another paycheck Friday if Congress can’t agree on a deal to fund DHS.
Currently, three security checkpoints in Philadelphia are temporarily closed due to the staffing challenges. Despite that, wait times have remained manageable during the day at the airport, according to the airport’s security checkpoint live tracker.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.