TSA Officers Say ICE Agents 'In the Way' at Airports

Staffing shortages and the government shutdown have led to longer security lines and operational strain at several major airports.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 8:50am

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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have complained that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed to U.S. airports are "just in the way," according to a union representative. Pascual Contreras, a TSA employee in Phoenix, said the reduced TSA workforce due to the government shutdown has led to longer security lines, and he doesn't think the ICE agents are helping. Contreras said the ICE agents have been "standing around" and TSA officers now have to train them on how to do their jobs.

Why it matters

The ongoing staffing shortages at the TSA, exacerbated by the government shutdown, have caused significant operational challenges at airports across the country. The deployment of ICE agents to assist with crowd control and security has been a controversial move, with some TSA workers questioning the value of having another federal agency on site.

The details

Pascual Contreras, a TSA employee in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, said he has not received a paycheck in more than a month. Contreras told Reuters that he doesn't think the ICE agents are needed and that "they've been standing around outside the whole time." He added that TSA officers now have the "heavy burden" of having to train the ICE agents on how to do their jobs.

  • The government shutdown has been ongoing for more than a month.

The players

Pascual Contreras

A TSA employee at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport who has complained that ICE agents deployed to the airport are "just in the way" and not helping with the staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for security screenings at U.S. airports, which is facing staffing shortages due to the government shutdown.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that has deployed agents to at least 14 airports to assist with crowd control, line management, and securing exit areas.

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What they’re saying

“Why would you bring another agency to be TSA when you already have TSA? They've been standing around outside the whole time.”

— Pascual Contreras, TSA Employee

“So, I would hate to call out another agency but what I'm getting from some of the officers is that they're just in the way. Now we're just, on top of having the heavy burden, now we have to train them in how we do our job?”

— Pascual Contreras, TSA Employee

The takeaway

The deployment of ICE agents to assist the understaffed TSA at airports has been met with skepticism from some TSA workers, who feel the additional federal presence is unnecessary and creates more work for them during an already challenging time.