Atlanta Airport to See ICE Agents Amid TSA Funding Crisis

Deployment comes as government shutdown strains airport security nationwide

Mar. 23, 2026 at 2:05am

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be deployed to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport starting Monday, as the ongoing partial government shutdown continues to strain Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations across the country. The deployment is part of a broader White House effort to send "hundreds" of ICE officers to large airports experiencing long security wait times.

Why it matters

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest and most efficient airport in the world, handling over 100 million passengers annually. The deployment of ICE agents to assist the understaffed TSA highlights the broader impact of the government shutdown on critical transportation infrastructure.

The details

ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents will be assigned to support TSA with line management and crowd control inside the domestic terminals at Atlanta's airport. All federal personnel will report directly to TSA, and the deployment is not intended for immigration enforcement. There are no requests for Atlanta Police Department support, and no anticipated impact on city operations.

  • The deployment will begin on Monday, March 25, 2026.
  • The partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security began in February 2026.

The players

Andre Dickens

The mayor of Atlanta, who confirmed the ICE deployment to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who announced the plan to send ICE agents to airports across the country to assist the understaffed TSA.

Tom Homan

The White House Border Czar, who will oversee the airport security initiative.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary, who commented on the impact of the government shutdown on airport security wait times.

Hakeem Jeffries

The House Democratic Leader, who criticized the plan to deploy untrained ICE agents to airports.

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What they’re saying

“Atlanta remains committed to ensuring that residents and travelers feel safe, informed, and supported as they move through the world's busiest and most efficient airport.”

— Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta

“We're going to be a force multiplier. I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine, because we're not trained in that — but wherever we can provide extra security, we will.”

— Tom Homan, White House Border Czar

“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

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This deployment highlights the broader impact of the government shutdown on critical transportation infrastructure, as the understaffed TSA struggles to maintain security at the world's busiest airport. It also raises concerns about the use of untrained ICE agents in airport operations.