HOUSTON – If you’re flying out of Houston this morning, you will see ICE agents inside the airports. On Sunday, President Trump said he would deploy the agents to assist with TSA checkpoints.
At Bush Intercontinental Airport early Monday, wait times were relatively short in several areas. Terminal A South was at 13 minutes, Terminal E was at 5 minutes, and TSA PreCheck was at 3 minutes. At Hobby Airport, standard screening was at 12 minutes and PreCheck was at 6 minutes.
Still, conditions can change quickly.
Several checkpoints at Bush were closed Monday morning, including Terminal A North, Terminal C South, and Terminal D, meaning fewer screening lanes were open and delays could build as more travelers arrive.
That comes as federal officials say immigration officers could be sent into airports to help during the Department of Homeland Security funding standoff.
President Donald Trump said immigration enforcement officers would begin assisting at airports starting Monday by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs.
The officers would not be part of the TSA screening process itself. The stated goal is to free up TSA officers and keep lines moving during the shutdown-related staffing strain.
Hundreds of DHS employees, including TSA workers, have been working without pay since Congress failed to renew department funding last month. Some lawmakers are also concerned that adding immigration agents to the airport environment could increase tension for already frustrated travelers.
The federal plan discussed in Washington applies to U.S. airports broadly. Around 8:30 a.m. Monday, KPRC 2 reporter Ricky Munoz confirmed that ICE agents are at Bush Airport.
Travelers heading to Bush or Hobby should still plan ahead, allow extra time, and check terminal-specific conditions before leaving for the airport.
Even when posted wait times look manageable, checkpoint closures and staffing changes can cause backups fast.