4 hours ago
Travelers are facing lines going out the door at airports nationwide as Transportation Security Administration agent absences soar during the partial shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has authorized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to take their place at some airports to ease delays.
Are ICE agents at the Des Moines airport?
Des Moines was not included in a list of 13 targeted airports obtained by CNN. Officials at the Des Moines airport have not yet responded to a request for comment.
The airports have primarily been large national hubs.
LIVE UPDATES: ICE agents deployed at US airports amid partial shutdown
Are ICE agents at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids?
ICE agents have not been deployed at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, said Director of Marketing and Communications Pam Hinman. "There is no indication at this time there will be any deployed to CID," she said.
Which airports have ICE agents?
The New York Times and CNN report that ICE agents are being deployed to more than a dozen airports across the country.
The USA TODAY Network has reached out to ICE and the Transportation Security Administration for comment, but has not received a response.
More: Your rights at TSA as ICE agents deploy to US airports
According to CNN, the airports are:
Chicago-O'Hare International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Houston's William P. Hobby Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York
LaGuardia Airport in New York
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport near San Juan, Puerto Rico
Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey
Philadelphia International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Southwest Florida International Airport in the Fort Myers area
Why is ICE in airports?
ICE agents have been brought in to help expedite waits, amid the TSA worker shortage.
More: TSA absence rate jumps to 10% amid government shutdown
Upwards of 1 in 10 TSA officers have called out in recent days, as they continue to go unpaid due a funding impasse in Congress.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at [email protected] or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What airports will ICE be at? TSA status for Des Moines, Cedar Rapids
