ICE Agents to Assist TSA at Airports Amid Ongoing DHS Shutdown
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will begin assisting Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at airports across the country on Monday, March 24, 2026, as a partial government shutdown continues to strain airport security operations, President Donald Trump announced Sunday. The move aims to alleviate increasingly long security lines caused by staffing shortages.
Trump Administration Announces ICE Deployment
President Trump stated on social media, “On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job.” He criticized Democrats for holding back funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been affected by the shutdown since mid-February .
Details of the Deployment
Tom Homan, White House border czar, explained that ICE agents will not directly screen passengers. Instead, they will focus on freeing up TSA officers to concentrate on screening duties by covering entry and exit points . “There are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant role, such as guarding an exit so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker,” Homan said . He as well noted that ICE agents already conduct immigration enforcement at airports and that this deployment would not alter that function.
Concerns from TSA Union
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents TSA officers, expressed concerns about the lack of specialized training for ICE agents. The union emphasized that TSA officers undergo months of training to detect explosives and weapons, skills that require specialized instruction and ongoing recertification . AFGE President Everett Kelley stated, “They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.”
Shutdown Impact and Congressional Stalemate
The partial government shutdown has left over 50,000 TSA employees working without pay for over five weeks, leading some to resign or stop reporting to work . This has resulted in increased wait times at airports nationwide. Recent attempts to pass a funding bill for the DHS have failed in both the Senate and the House .
Regional Impacts
As of Sunday, March 23, 2026, Logan Airport in Boston reported no significant impacts to security checkpoints due to the shutdown . However, ICE agents are expected to deploy to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday to assist with crowd management and TSA operations .
Negotiations Continue
Tom Homan indicated that lawmakers are “having solid conversations” regarding the shutdown, focusing on policy execution rather than fundamental policy changes . Discussions are centered on issues such as clear identification of ICE agents and concerns regarding access to detention facilities.