ICE agents have been deployed to Houston’s major airports to assist TSA operations, as staffing shortages tied to the federal government shutdown are pushing wait times at Bush Intercontinental Airport to as long as 4 hours.
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Federal immigration agents have been sent to Houston airports due to persistent staffing shortages caused by the federal government shutdown, resulting in longer security wait times.
Authorities have verified that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were seen on Monday at both George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. The decision follows growing pressure on Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, as wait times at Bush Airport could reach 4 hours or more.
On Sunday, travelers at Bush experienced wait times of up to 220 minutes to get through security.
Houston Airports announced that the deployment is part of a wider federal initiative in response to the shutdown that began on February 14, which has resulted in TSA officers working without compensation. Officials stated, “ICE agents are providing support for TSA operations … as part of the federal response.”
The recent staffing crunch has become more pronounced, with a number of TSA officers calling out sick or resigning. Data from ABC News shows that the agency had an absentee rate of approximately 11.5% of its workforce on Saturday, the highest figure reported during the shutdown.
Federal officials have announced that they are deploying extra personnel to ensure operations remain stable. “If we can introduce additional assets and tools to assist TSA in eliminating these lines, I believe that makes a great deal of sense,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in an interview with ABC News.
As per ABC News, ICE agents are set to be deployed across 14 airports nationwide, including both major hubs in Houston.
Extended wait times are occurring alongside consistent passenger volumes, leading to congestion at security checkpoints and raising worries about potential missed flights and travel delays.
Officials at the airport have not specified the duration of the prolonged wait times, but they are advising travelers to arrive much earlier than normal due to federal staffing issues.
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