ICE agents deployed to Southwest Florida International Airport amid TSA staff shortages

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Travelers at Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County will see Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) throughout the terminal on Monday.

RSW is one of 13 airports in the United States where ICE agents are assisting with Transportation Security Administration duties, CNN confirmed.

President Donald Trump announced the move on Sunday morning, stating ICE would be supporting TSA agents, who are currently working without pay due to the partial government shutdown.

TSA has been dealing with staffing shortages, as 40% of agents have not been showing up for work due to unpaid wages.

ICE will be assigned jobs that would free up TSA agents to focus on security screenings, such as monitoring airport entrances and exits.

This comes after Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to pass a measure to fund separate Homeland Security agencies, such as the TSA, while excluding immigration enforcement agencies. Republicans said funding should be all or nothing.

The full list of airports that will see an ICE presence on Monday, per CNN, includes:

• 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 (New York)
• LaGuardia Airport (New York)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
• Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Newark Liberty International Airport
• Philadelphia International Airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• Pittsburgh International Airport
• Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Florida)

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