Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were deployed by President Donald Trump to multiple airports across the country on Monday to help Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.
Trump said the move has already assisted airports across the nation where travelers have faced hours-long lines, noting he has made some requests to ICE agents, including the removal of their masks.
“I actually suggested that the airports, they take off their masks and they did that,” he explained. “I didn’t love the look in the airport as you get off the plane. So, I made a request and they agreed to it.”
The president also signaled he would consider using the National Guard to assist at airports during the ongoing partial shutdown if necessary, saying, “We will bring out the National Guard. You know where we need it, to help out at the airports.”
Why It Matters
The DHS shutdown, which began on February 14, left tens of thousands of TSA officers working without pay and contributed to widespread callouts and resignations, intensifying airport delays nationwide.
The decision to deploy ICE—whose officers are trained for immigration enforcement, not aviation security—triggered pushback from unions and civil liberties groups concerned about safety, training, and the potential to alarm travelers, while the White House argued the move would free TSA specialists to staff screening lanes.
ICE Deployed to Airports: What to Know
ICE agents were deployed to at least 14 airports to assist TSA with crowd control, line management, and guarding exits, with plans differing by location, according to White House border czar Tom Homan. Homan said agents would not operate X-ray machines because they are not trained for that but could “move those lines along” by covering duties that do not require TSA-specific certification.
ICE officers were seen at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, among other sites.
Trump said ICE could make arrests at airports but emphasized the agents were primarily there to assist TSA.
Why Are ICE Agents in Airports?
The administration said the deployments are aimed to alleviate hours-long airport waits caused by unpaid TSA staff calling out or resigning during the DHS funding lapse.
ICE and TSA are part of DHS, and officials said ICE officers would take on non-specialized duties—such as exit-lane monitoring and ID checks—to free trained TSA screeners for security lines, Homan and DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis said.
Airports including Atlanta and Houston warned travelers to expect waits of up to four hours as limited checkpoints operated and staffing fluctuated, local and federal officials said. Separately, New York’s LaGuardia Airport remained closed until at least 2 p.m. ET Monday following a fatal collision between an Air Canada regional jet and a firetruck, which killed the pilot and copilot and injured dozens.
Will the National Guard Start Working in Airports?
Trump said he may bring in the National Guard to help at airports if needed, but no deployments had been announced as of Monday afternoon.
The comment came just a day after Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry offered to use the state’s National Guard to help with long air travel security lines.
Homan said the ICE operation remained a “work in progress,” and the White House indicated more airports could see ICE officers depending on conditions, CNN reported.
How Long Have TSA Agents Been Unpaid?
TSA employees have worked without pay since DHS funding lapsed on February 14, now entering a sixth week.
DHS said callout rates reached 11.8 percent on Sunday—the highest of the shutdown—with more than 3,450 officers absent and over 400 having quit, the Associated Press reported.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said on Monday: “The American public is going through the airports. They’re going through a big struggle right now, and we just put ICE in charge and helping TSA, the agents, and they’re working together so far very well.”
White House border czar Tom Homan said of the ICE plan, as reported by NPR: “It’s a work in progress…I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in that.”
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, as reported by NPR Sunday: “ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security.”
What Happens Next
Congressional talks on DHS funding showed little public progress as of Monday afternoon; Trump urged lawmakers to remain in Washington over the Easter recess to pass his preferred legislation.
Travelers should monitor airport advisories and arrive early as staffing and checkpoint availability continue to fluctuate.
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