ICE Agents Are Now Patrolling U.S. Airports. Here’s What to Know.

ICE agents deployed at U.S. airports amid TSA staffing shortage

Up to 150 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were deployed to airports across the United States on Monday, as the Trump administration said the move was intended to help ease long security lines caused by a shortage of Transportation Security Administration staff.

The deployment comes during a partial government shutdown that has left nearly 50,000 TSA officers working without pay since Feb. 14, when funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed during a congressional standoff over immigration enforcement. The staffing strain has contributed to closed security checkpoints, long waits and missed flights.

President Trump said the deployment would help reduce delays. At Kennedy Airport and several other major hubs, ICE officers were seen walking in small groups through check-in areas and standing near exits. Unlike TSA agents, ICE personnel are being paid.

Duties remain unclear

The exact role of ICE officers at airports remained unclear on Monday. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Sunday that ICE would “help bolster T.S.A. efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.”

Federal agents were also seen patrolling Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where more than 40 percent of TSA officers had called out on Sunday.

Criticism from lawmakers and union

Democratic lawmakers and the union representing TSA officers criticized the use of ICE personnel at airports, calling the deployment disruptive, unsafe and unhelpful.

For travelers, the central issue remains the ongoing shortage of TSA staff during the shutdown, which has strained airport operations nationwide as the federal funding fight continues.