ICE Agents to Assist Airport Security During Shutdown

Border Czar says ICE will help TSA move lines faster at airports nationwide

Mar. 23, 2026 at 3:37am

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The White House border czar, Tom Homan, confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be deployed to U.S. airports on Monday to help support Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers whose ranks have thinned due to the partial government shutdown. Homan said the ICE agents will help move security lines along, though details on the deployment are still being worked out.

Why it matters

The deployment of ICE agents to airports is a controversial move, with some critics arguing that it could make airports less safe and inflame frustrations among unpaid TSA workers. The shutdown has already caused long lines and delays at airports across the country during one of the busiest travel seasons.

The details

Homan said ICE agents will concentrate on airports with long wait times, prioritizing ones with lines of about three hours. He said the agents will help cover exits and other areas that TSA workers are now staffing in order to free up TSA agents to do screenings and other functions to help reduce lines. However, some TSA union representatives expressed concerns that the ICE presence could be a distraction and make airports less safe.

  • ICE agents will be deployed to U.S. airports on Monday, March 25, 2026.

The players

Tom Homan

The White House border czar who confirmed the ICE deployment to airports.

Donald Trump

The U.S. President who announced the measure to deploy ICE agents to airports.

Hakeem Jeffries

A Democratic Congressman who criticized Trump's idea to deploy ICE agents to airports.

Mike Gayzagian

A TSA officer at Boston Logan International Airport and the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2617, which represents TSA employees across New England.

Johnny Jones

A TSA officer at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and a secretary-treasurer with the American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing nearly 50,000 TSA officers.

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What they’re saying

“It's a work in progress, but we will be at airports tomorrow, helping TSA move those lines along.”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar

“The last thing the American people need is for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports across the country potentially to brutalize or to kill them.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Congressman

“None of this would be happening if Congress had just simply decided to pay us.”

— Mike Gayzagian, TSA officer and union president

“All we want is a paycheck. We don't need all these optics.”

— Johnny Jones, TSA officer and union secretary-treasurer

What’s next

Administration officials are still finalizing the details of the ICE deployment, including how many agents will be sent and to which airports. More concrete plans are expected to be announced on Sunday afternoon.

The takeaway

The deployment of ICE agents to airports during the government shutdown is a controversial move that could further inflame tensions and distract from the larger issue of unpaid TSA workers. While the administration aims to ease long security lines, critics argue the ICE presence could make airports less safe and undermine public trust.