Long TSA waits and LaGuardia shutdown push more travelers to Westchester as questions remain about ICE role
President Donald Trump confirmed the plan, saying ICE agents would assist TSA workers who have gone a month without pay.
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Westchester County Airport is seeing heavier crowds today as passengers rerouting from LaGuardia Airport mix with longer‑than‑usual TSA lines tied to the ongoing partial government shutdown.
LaGuardia remains shut down following a fatal accident, prompting airlines to redirect flights and passengers to nearby airports, including Westchester.
The increased traffic and staffing gaps led officials to bring in additional TSA agents from Long Island after some local agents called out. Last week, workers said Westchester had avoided the severe delays seen at larger hubs because it is a smaller airport with limited destinations.
Today, sources reported a noticeably more crowded terminal.
The shift comes at a time when TSA staffing shortages have led to unpredictable security waits nationwide. Federal officials say hundreds of TSA agents have quit or called out after going a month without pay, leaving lines at major airports stretching for hours. President Donald Trump announced that ICE agents would be brought in to help TSA by guarding exit lanes or checking passenger IDs.
At Westchester County Airport in Harrison, officials declined News 12’s request to enter the terminal, saying they were concerned the station’s presence could cause panic over the possibility of ICE agents being on site.
Sources inside the airport told News 12 there were no ICE agents at Westchester today.
Several Democrats criticized the federal plan to send ICE agents to airports. Sen. Chuck Schumer said, “ICE agents, who are untrained and have caused problems everywhere they've gone, lurking at our airports — that's asking for trouble.”
White House officials say ICE support is intended for larger airports dealing with long lines and tasks not requiring specialized training.
It remains unclear which airports will continue receiving ICE agents or how long they will remain in place.
