People wait in a TSA line at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday in New York City. Yuki Iwamura/AP
U.S. airports are facing increasing security line delays amidst an ongoing government shutdown. To address this, President Trump has announced the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist at these locations.
“On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job,” Trump shared through social media.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, now in its sixth week, has been attributed to disagreements with Democrats, resulting in halted paychecks for TSA workers. Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis noted, “This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work because they are not able to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent.”
The impact of this shutdown has led to significant travel delays, and hundreds of ICE officers are set to be deployed to airports experiencing the worst disruptions. However, the DHS has not specified which airports will receive these agents.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed that ICE agents will be stationed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, emphasizing that their role will focus on “line management and crowd control,” not immigration enforcement.
Union and Public Concerns
The move to deploy ICE agents has been met with criticism from several fronts. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, stated, “ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security,” highlighting the specialized training TSA officers undergo to detect threats.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also expressed concerns, fearing the presence of immigration agents might “inspire fear among families.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed these worries, stating on CNN, “The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or in some instances kill them.”
Operational Uncertainties
The White House’s border czar, Tom Homan, has been appointed to oversee the ICE deployment. While the exact operations remain unclear, Homan mentioned ICE agents might relieve TSA personnel from certain duties, although they are unlikely to operate X-ray machines due to lack of training.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested a different perspective, noting ICE agents might manage X-ray machines due to their affiliation under Homeland Security. Duffy warned of escalating wait times at airports if Congress fails to fund the DHS soon.
Political Stalemate
Efforts to pass a DHS funding bill have repeatedly stalled in Congress. While ICE remains well-funded following a substantial allocation last summer, the shutdown stems from disputes over ICE policy changes prompted by incidents involving federal immigration agents.
The future role of ICE agents at airports remains a topic of discussion, with Homan affirming their commitment to enforcing immigration laws during their deployment.
Contributions to this report by NPR’s Jennifer Ludden.
