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Billal Rahman

By Billal Rahman

Immigration Reporter

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Federal immigration agents have been deployed to major airports across the country on Monday as part of the Trump administration's response to ongoing disruptions in air travel during a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are expected to be present at more than a dozen airports nationwide to help assist Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents in their daily duties and alleviate hours-long airport waits.

According to CNN, ICE agents are currently deployed to the following airports:

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed the planned presence of ICE personnel at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport beginning Monday morning. And a spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has confirmed to Newsweek that ICE agents are on-site.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said at O'Hare International Airport, about 75 ICE officers were expected to be deployed across multiple shifts beginning Monday, while Midway International Airport had not been identified for a similar deployment.

"I have concerns about the deployment of federal agents at airports across the United States," Johnson told Newsweek. "We will closely monitor the deployment and use every tool we have to ensure that people, no matter their immigration status, can travel to and from Chicago safely and without harassment from the federal government."

The mayor's office said the ICE personnel would perform non-screening support duties—including monitoring exit lanes; making routine passenger announcements, such as reminding travelers to remove liquids from their bags; assisting with queue management; and other tasks intended to allow TSA officers to focus on passenger and baggage screening.

An ICE official who requested anonymity to speak freely told Newsweek that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) would be deployed to assist TSA. HSI is a subdivision of ICE that traditionally focuses on combating transnational crime.

A badge hanging over the uniform of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

...

The deployment comes amid a prolonged funding impasse affecting the DHS, which oversees TSA. Thousands of TSA employees have been working without pay, contributing to staffing shortages, absenteeism and longer security lines at airports across the country. TSA officers haven't been paid since their parent agency partly shut down in February.

President Donald Trump announced the plans to deploy ICE agents at airports over the weekend. In a social media post, he said agents would "do security like no one has ever seen before."

In a Sunday interview on CNN's State of the Union, White House border czar Tom Homan emphasized that ICE agents would play a supporting role rather than replace TSA staff. He said the move was intended to assist security operations strained by staffing shortages.

"We're simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don't need their specialized expertise, such as screening through the X-ray machine. Not trained in that? We won't do that," Homan said. "But there are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant roles, such as guarding an exit so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker."

A spokesperson for the Port Authority Office of Media Relations, which oversees JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, told Newsweek: "The Port Authority continues to closely monitor staffing impacts at TSA checkpoints that are contributing to extended wait times at our airports. Decisions regarding the deployment and use of federal personnel resources, including ICE officers, rest with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Port Authority expects that any such personnel assigned to assist with passenger processing functions will be appropriately trained and focused on supporting screening operations, consistent with maintaining the safety, integrity, and efficiency of the security process at our airports and protecting the flying public."

A spokesperson at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport told Newsweek: "Due to impacts from the federal government's partial shutdown, there continues to be a shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at the security checkpoint at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

"In anticipation of a higher volume of passenger activity on Monday, March 23, passengers should arrive at least 3 hours ahead of their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening. Wait times on Monday may be up to two hours or more, especially during peak periods, which are between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

"The Airport has staff on hand to help keep the lines organized and will continue to coordinate with the TSA as they navigate this issue. The Airport has also been advised by the TSA that additional security resources from the federal government are on-site on Monday to support TSA security functions."

One former ICE official told Newsweek on the condition of anonymity, "I find the president's plan to deploy ICE agents to U.S. airports profoundly misguided and reckless."

Meanwhile, DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis told Newsweek that "because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours-long lines at airports across the country—especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families."

She added: "While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions."

The stalemate in Congress over DHS funding is now in its second month. Lawmakers have remained deeply divided over funding, with Democrats trying to bake new ICE regulations into a funding deal in the wake of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in January. Republicans have been largely reluctant to vote for such measures, placing the blame on their colleagues across the aisle for the shutdown.

Efforts to resolve the standoff have so far been unsuccessful. A Senate vote on legislation to fund DHS failed to advance on Friday, falling short of the support needed to proceed and leaving the funding impasse unresolved.

If you have footage, photos or personal stories involving ICE agents at airports anywhere in the country, please share them with us by emailing b.rahman@newsweek.com.

Update 3/23/26, 12:32 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a comment from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

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