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by Bobby CorserandKATUStaff
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — According to ABC News, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not be assisting at security checkpoints at the Portland International Airport.
This comes as President Donald Trump said he’s prepared to deploy ICE agents and potentially the National Guard to help cover TSA staffing shortages amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
READ MORE | Trump deploys ICE to some airports, signals National Guard next
ICE agents will be deployed to 14 airports across the country (full list below) primarily along the east coast, intended to help ease staffing shortages at security checkpoints. Phoenix Sky Harbor is the only airport west of the Rocky Mountains that will have agents present.
As of Monday, PDX will not be one of those airports.
KATU News reached out to the Port of Portland, and a spokesperson said there are no travel impacts at PDX and security line wait times are normal, even considering Spring Break travel.
"This is largely because federal agencies operating at PDX, including TSA, were not experiencing chronic staffing shortages heading into this recent partial shutdown," said Molly Prescott with Port of Portland Aviation Communications. "And, while we are seeing slightly higher callouts than usual, they are not significant enough to impact operations and increase passengers’ wait times through security."
Prescott urges travelers to still arrive with plenty of time to check in and get through security checkpoints, and monitor flight statuses and wait times at their website FlyPDX.com before they arrive.
Travelers at PDX told KATU News that they have mixed emotions when asked about ICE agents possibly assisting the TSA. Some passengers said they were fine with it, while others voiced their displeasure.
Sources tell ABC News that the list is subject to change as plans evolve.
Trump tasked Border Czar Tom Homan with leading the effort. Homan told CNN that the agents would be handling "non-significant roles."
Airports where ICE agents will be deployed:
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