By Micah Jonah
March 23, 2026
The United States is set to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to major airports starting Monday under the supervision of border czar Tom Homan, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday. The move aims to ease mounting pressure on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who have been working without pay amid a partial government shutdown.
Speaking to CNN, Homan explained that the ICE agents’ role is primarily to assist TSA in non-specialized tasks, such as crowd management and maintaining order, allowing TSA officers to concentrate on passenger screening. “We are here to help TSA do their job faster and more efficiently without compromising security,” he said.
The first deployment will take place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with plans to expand to other airports facing long queues and delays. Federal officials emphasised that ICE personnel will not carry out immigration enforcement during the assignment and will report directly to TSA throughout their deployment.
TSA unions, however, have raised concerns over passenger safety. Everett Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, said, “ICE agents are not trained for aviation security. Replacing TSA officers with ICE personnel is dangerous and could compromise safety.”
The deployment comes amid stalled negotiations in Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). President Trump added pressure by demanding that Democrats back the “SAVE America Act,” a controversial federal elections overhaul bill, as a condition for any DHS funding agreement.
TSA has faced severe staff shortages, with officers calling in sick or quitting due to unpaid work during the shutdown. The situation has caused long security lines across the country, with passengers reportedly waiting up to three hours at some airports.
Vice President JD Vance criticized Democrats for “holding TSA hostage,” while key Democratic lawmakers accused Republicans of politicising the crisis and compromising safety.
Bipartisan talks with Homan were described as “productive,” but crucial issues, including judicial warrants for enforcement actions and ICE agents’ mask removal, remain unresolved. Lawmakers face a tight deadline to pass a DHS funding bill before the Easter recess.
For now, the deployment of ICE agents is seen as a temporary measure to manage airport congestion, though critics have warned it could create operational and safety challenges if not properly managed.
