ICE agents are being sent to major airports to ease long lines as the Transportation Security Administration faces a growing staffing shortage.
President Trump sends ICE agents to assist TSA with airport delays
President Donald Trump sent ICE agents to assist the TSA as wait times at airports skyrocketed due to the partial government shutdown.
President Donald Trump sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports across the country on Monday, March 23, amid long security lines as the partial government shutdown continues.
Weekend absenteeism for Transportation Security Administration employees has reached its highest level since the shutdown began in mid-February, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The White House said in a March 22 post to X that police officers are working without regular pay and more than 400 have quit.
ICE officers were spotted at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). This is where they are sent.
To help travelers understand what’s happening at airports, USA TODAY asked readers to submit questions on social media. Here’s a breakdown of the answers:
Which airports do ICE agents go to?
According to a CNN report, personnel have been dispatched to the following 13 airports:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
The report noted that ICE officers’ duties may vary by airport and deployment plans may change. However, the New York Times reported that ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents would be sent to a total of 14 airports (the news organization listed multiple airports and cities in the list published by CNN, but did not include a comprehensive list).
Lauren Biss, acting DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, told USA TODAY that the agency does not confirm the location of employees, citing “operational security reasons.”
Do ICE agents wear masks to hide their identity?
President Donald Trump said in a March 23 post on Truth Social that he is “all in” for ICE agents wearing masks at immigration, but that he would “greatly appreciate” them not wearing masks at airports. However, USA TODAY witnessed both masked and unmasked agents at JFK and ATL.
How will ICE assist TSA?
White House Border Patrol official Tom Homan told CNN’s “State of the Union” on March 22 that ICE agents could help free up TSA agents from other duties. “I’ve never seen ICE officers looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in X-ray screening. But there are certain parts of security that TSA does, and we can get them out of those jobs and put them into specialized jobs and help move those lines,” he said.
Instead, ICE agents are being used in support roles, such as guarding exits and handling tasks other than inspections, Homan said. However, early on-the-ground reports from travelers suggest the impact is mixed, with some saying the presence of ICE officers has not significantly improved long wait times.
Homan also noted that ICE officers generally receive “high-level” training. “ICE officers are already stationed at many airports across the country, conducting many investigations and criminal investigations into smuggling at airports,” he said.
Will they arrest people or conduct immigration enforcement?
Homan told CNN that ICE officers sent to airports are not expected to conduct extensive immigration enforcement or make random arrests of travelers. The stated purpose is to support airport operations during the closure, not to conduct immigration inspections.
“This is designed to support TSA in its mission to get Americans through airports as quickly as possible while adhering to all safety guidelines and protocols,” he said.
However, it is important to note that ICE, as a law enforcement agency, has the authority to arrest individuals who have already been flagged in its system, such as those who already have a deportation order or warrant. That means while everyday travelers aren’t subject to widespread immigration checks at TSA checkpoints, targeted enforcement at airports is still a possibility, raising concerns among civil rights groups and travelers.
Can an ICE officer receive a regular salary while working as a TSA officer? Why does ICE pay but TSA doesn’t?
ICE officers continue to receive their regular salaries because they are classified as essential funded employees within the Department of Homeland Security. TSA employees are also deemed essential and must work during the shutdown, but are not being paid because their funding is tied to a spending process that is stalled in Congress.
The difference lies in the funding structure. ICE has access to much larger and longer-term funding streams, while TSA relies more directly on lapsed annual budgets. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides DHS with more than $170 billion in immigration enforcement funding through 2029, including nearly $75 billion in funding for ICE.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Contributors: Ignacio Calderon and Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
