No ICE agents at RIC ‘so far’ despite Trump’s announcement amid partial government shutdown, spokesperson says

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond International Airport has not seen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents providing security support "so far," a spokesperson said on Monday, despite President Donald Trump's announcement on Sunday amid the partial government shutdown.

A partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14, and since then, more than 400 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have quit their jobs, according to reporting by The Hill, with many travelers experiencing longer wait times nationwide.

On Sunday, March 22, Trump reportedly said ICE agents would help with airport security.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that its journalists saw ICE officers patrolling terminals and standing watch beside long lines of passengers at several airports throughout the U.S., including the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Louis Armstrong International Airport outside New Orleans.

With these reports in mind, 8News asked an RIC spokesperson if the airport had yet seen ICE agents supporting security efforts, to which the spokesperson said, "So far, no."

When asked if RIC has seen a large number of TSA agents calling out sick, a spokesperson said that as a federal agency, TSA does not provide attendance numbers to RIC.

Despite that, the spokesperson said the airport has been "fortunate" to see TSA staffing sufficient for timely security screening given seasonal travel plans over Spring Break and holidays.

In addition, the spokesperson said it has not yet changed its recommended time for travelers to arrive at the airport before their flight amid the partial shutdown.

For more information on Richmond International Airport, visit its website.