White House Confirms ICE Deployment to Airports on Monday

Trump administration plans to send immigration agents to help with security lines amid government shutdown

Mar. 23, 2026 at 6:05am

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The Trump administration has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be deployed to U.S. airports starting on Monday, despite opposition from unions and Democrats. The move is intended to help alleviate long security lines caused by a shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Why it matters

The deployment of ICE agents to airports raises concerns about potential immigration enforcement activities at major travel hubs, in addition to questions about whether the agents have the proper training to handle security screening duties typically performed by TSA personnel. The move is also seen as a political ploy by the Trump administration to pressure Democrats in the ongoing budget impasse.

The details

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said the agency will work with the TSA to assign ICE agents to tasks like line management and crowd control within airport terminals, though they will not be directly operating X-ray machines or conducting other specialized security screenings. However, Lyons confirmed that the ICE agents will also be conducting immigration enforcement at the airports. The deployment is expected to initially target the airports most impacted by TSA staffing shortages, with Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport being one of the first locations.

  • The ICE deployment to U.S. airports will begin on Monday, March 25, 2026.
  • The partial government shutdown that has affected TSA staffing has been ongoing since January 31, 2026.

The players

Tom Homan

President Donald Trump's border czar who confirmed the ICE deployment plan.

Todd Lyons

Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Ha Nguyen McNeill

Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader who criticized the Trump administration's plan.

Andre Dickens

Mayor of Atlanta, where ICE agents will be deployed to the city's international airport.

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What they’re saying

“So, we'll put together a plan today and we'll execute it tomorrow.”

— Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's border czar

“Instead of sending ICE agents to harass travelers at airports, why don't Republicans get their act together and agree to pay TSA workers like we've asked them to SEVEN TIMES now?”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

“Thankfully, ICE will bring sanity to our airports starting tomorrow, but it's far past time for Democrats to fund DHS.”

— JD Vance, Vice President

“Mr. President, it's pretty simple: if you want TSA agents to get paid (as they should), then pass the Democrats' bill to fund TSA. No need for your out-of-control paramilitary to do yet another thing they aren't trained to do.”

— Dan Goldman, U.S. Representative

“Our members at TSA have been showing up every day, without a paycheck, because they believe in the mission of keeping the flying public safe. They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.”

— Everett Kelley, AFGE National President

What’s next

The judge overseeing the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow ICE agents to continue their deployment to U.S. airports.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's plan to send ICE agents to airports has sparked concerns about potential immigration enforcement activities and the ability of these agents to properly handle security duties. The move is seen as a political ploy to pressure Democrats in the ongoing budget impasse, rather than a practical solution to address the TSA staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown.