Federal Immigration Agents Deployed to U.S. Airports During Budget Impasse

Agents to assist TSA amid security line congestion and missed paychecks for DHS workers

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:08pm

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President Donald Trump has ordered federal immigration agents to U.S. airports to help relieve security line congestion as a budget impasse has air travelers frustrated over long waits and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers angry about missed paychecks. The agents may guard exit lanes or check passenger IDs, though they will not be operating X-ray machines. The move comes as the partial government shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of Homeland Security workers, including TSA, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard, working without pay.

Why it matters

The deployment of immigration agents to airports is seen as a political move by the Trump administration to pressure Democrats in the budget negotiations over border security and immigration policy. Critics argue that untrained ICE agents should not be handling airport security functions, raising concerns about their conduct and potential impact on travelers.

The details

White House border czar Tom Homan said the specific duties and numbers of immigration agents sent to airports are still being discussed with TSA and ICE leadership. Agents could cover exit lanes currently monitored by TSA, freeing up those officers to work screening lines. They could also check passenger IDs before the security checkpoints. Homan said the priority is the busiest airports with the longest wait times, up to 3 hours.

  • On Sunday, President Trump said ICE agents would be sent to airports starting Monday.
  • The Senate was expected to advance the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to be Trump's next homeland security secretary, with a possible confirmation vote as early as late Monday.

The players

President Donald Trump

The president who ordered federal immigration agents to be deployed to U.S. airports to assist with security during the budget impasse.

Tom Homan

The White House border czar named by Trump to lead the effort to send immigration agents to airports.

Hakeem Jeffries

The House Democratic leader who criticized the plan to send untrained ICE agents to airports.

Sean Duffy

The Transportation Secretary who expressed concerns about the uncertainty passengers face over possible wait times at airports.

Kristi Noem

Trump's first Homeland Security secretary, whose tenure was described as tumultuous.

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What they’re saying

“The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic leader

“We're going to be a force multiplier”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar

“Do I have to come an hour and a half early? Do I have to come four hours early? They don't know until the day of or the afternoon of their flight. So if we can alleviate that, again, the president wants to take away that leverage point for Democrats and make travel easier for the American people.”

— Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary

What’s next

The specific deployment plan for immigration agents at airports is still being finalized between ICE and TSA leadership.

The takeaway

The deployment of immigration agents to airports is a politically-charged move by the Trump administration that raises concerns about the impact on airport security and passenger experience, as well as the broader budget negotiations between the White House and Congress.