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

Key Points:

• The Trump administration is deploying hundreds of ICE agents to 14 major U.S. airports, including Philadelphia International Airport, to assist amid ongoing TSA staffing shortages caused by the partial government shutdown.
• TSA officers remain unpaid during the shutdown, leading to over 400 resignations and numerous call-outs, which has increased passenger wait times and airport congestion nationwide.
• TSA union representatives at Philadelphia International Airport expressed concern over ICE agents being brought in, emphasizing the financial stress TSA workers face while working without pay.
• Travelers at Philadelphia International Airport reported arriving hours early to avoid long security lines, with some lines reportedly stretching back to parking garages, though wait times fluctuated throughout the day.
• The partial government shutdown entered its third week, and if unresolved by Friday, TSA agents will have gone three weeks without pay, further exacerbating staffing and operational challenges at airports.