ICE Agents to Assist at U.S. Airports as Shutdown Strains TSA Staffing
As long security lines continue to frustrate travelers during a busy spring travel period, federal officials are preparing to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to major airports across the country.
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, said Sunday that ICE personnel would begin assisting at airports as early as Monday. The move comes as the Transportation Security Administration faces staffing shortages amid a partial government shutdown, leaving many agents working without pay.
“It’s a work in progress, but we will be at airports tomorrow, helping T.S.A. move those lines along,” Homan said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
According to The New York Times, ICE agents, including those from Homeland Security Investigations, are expected at 14 airports nationwide. These include major hubs such as Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston and Phoenix.
The Department of Homeland Security said the deployment is intended to reduce wait times by allowing T.S.A. agents to focus on passenger screening. ICE agents are expected to handle other roles, such as monitoring exits and assisting in areas that do not require specialized screening expertise.
“This is about helping T.S.A. do their mission, and get the American public through that airport as quick as they can, while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols. We’re simply there to help T.S.A. do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise.”
The decision follows a weekend announcement by President Trump, who framed the move as both a response to long lines and leverage in negotiations with congressional Democrats over funding the Department of Homeland Security.
On social media, he wrote that agents would “do security like no one has ever seen before,” adding that the effort would include “the immediate arrest of all illegal immigrants who have come into our Country.”
In a statement Sunday night, the department blamed Democrats for the disruptions.
“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 said. “This will help bolster T.S.A. efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.”
Still, details of the plan remain unclear. Officials have yet to finalize how many agents will be deployed or precisely where they will be stationed. Homan said airports with the longest wait times, particularly those exceeding three hours, would likely be prioritized. “When we deploy them more, we’ll have a well-thought-out plan to execute,” he said.
The announcement has drawn criticism from lawmakers and union representatives, who argue that the move does little to address the root problem—unpaid T.S.A. workers.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York condemned the plan, saying, “The last thing the American people need is for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports across the country, potentially to brutalize or to kill them.”
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker told reporters that ICE agents are “striking fear” in passengers. Booker also claimed that many airlines told him they want agents out of airports and called on President Trump to fund the T.S.A.
“They have brought this reckless and out-of-control ICE into our airports, and have even told the American people what they’re specifically doing, and all we see them doing today is roaming around.”
T.S.A. employees and union leaders have also raised concerns about both effectiveness and optics. Mike Gayzagian, a T.S.A. officer at Boston Logan International Airport and the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2617, questioned whether ICE agents would provide meaningful support, particularly if assigned to less critical roles.
“None of this would be happening if Congress had just simply decided to pay us,” he said.
Johnny Jones, a T.S.A. officer at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, echoed that frustration. “All we want is a paycheck,” Jones said. “We don’t need all these optics.”
He also warned that the presence of immigration agents could create tension and distractions, potentially making airports less safe.
Travelers themselves expressed mixed reactions. At LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, where wait times stretched up to three hours, some passengers welcomed additional help but remained wary of ICE involvement.
Sarah Estes, a nurse from Dallas visiting New York, said she had expected a short wait based on airport estimates but was instead told it could take over two hours.
“I don’t trust those people,” she said. “So how can I trust them to help out at the airport? But the airports do need help.”
Homan emphasized that ICE agents already operate in airport environments, handling immigration enforcement and investigating crimes such as smuggling. He added that agents are “well trained” in identification and security procedures and are continuing to receive pay during the shutdown, unlike many T.S.A. workers.
Even so, with implementation imminent, the plan remains fluid, leaving questions about how effectively the additional personnel will ease delays during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
