What’s happening at Wichita Eisenhower Airport amid partial government shutdown

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have not been deployed to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, and security lines are operating as normal, according to airport officials.

“We are not seeing the impacts that larger airports are seeing,” airport spokesperson Rachel Mayberry confirmed to The Eagle, referencing longer than normal security lines amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.

President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that ICE would assist Transportation Security Administration workers at some airports. TSA agents have not been paid in weeks, leading to thousands of its employees either calling out or quitting work.

According to media reports, ICE agents have been spotted in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, among others.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in a partisan statement to The Eagle slamming Democrats for the shutdown, would not confirm whether ICE agents would be sent to Eisenhower National Airport.

“For operational security reasons, we are not going to confirm the locations of our officers. Because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the country — especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families,” the statement read.

TSA suggested last week that smaller airports, like Eisenhower, may close completely if the shutdown continues and more employees continue to call out.

DHS would not confirm whether Eisenhower would close if the shutdown continues.