Immigration Officers Deployed to US Airports Amid Shutdown

Concerns raised over escalating tensions between travelers, TSA agents, and immigration officers

Mar. 23, 2026 at 1:00am

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President Donald Trump has ordered federal immigration agents to U.S. airports to help with security during the ongoing budget impasse, drawing concerns that their presence may escalate tensions among air travelers frustrated over long wait times and TSA screeners angry about missed paychecks.

Why it matters

The deployment of immigration officers to airports raises concerns about potential conflicts between travelers, TSA agents, and immigration enforcement personnel, especially as the partial government shutdown continues to impact airport operations and staffing.

The details

Trump said the immigration officers, led by White House border czar Tom Homan, will be a "force multiplier" to help TSA agents, potentially by covering exit lanes or checking passenger IDs. However, the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents over 50,000 TSA employees, condemned the plan, saying ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security.

  • The deployment of immigration officers to airports is set to begin on Monday, March 25, 2026.
  • The partial government shutdown, which has left hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers unpaid, has been ongoing since last month.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who ordered the deployment of immigration officers to U.S. airports.

Tom Homan

The White House border czar named by Trump to lead the new airport security effort.

Everett Kelley

The president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents over 50,000 TSA employees.

Markwayne Mullin

The Republican senator from Oklahoma who has been nominated by Trump to be the next Homeland Security secretary.

Andre Dickens

The mayor of Atlanta, who issued a statement about the deployment of ICE and Homeland Security Investigations officers to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

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What they’re saying

“Bad idea. What we need to do is, we need to get the DHS issues resolved, we need to get the TSA agents paid. Do you really want to have even additional tensions on top of what we are already facing?”

— Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator from Alaska

“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, President of the American Federation of Government Employees

“I don't think it can hurt. They can help relieve some of the pressure.”

— Mike Rounds, U.S. Senator from South Dakota

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 case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.