Trump Deploys ICE Agents to 14 US Airports Amid TSA Staffing Crisis and Shutdown

Hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began deploying to at least 14 U.S. airports on Monday, March 23, 2026, as a staffing crisis at the Transportation Security Administration caused hours-long security lines and widespread travel disruption across the country. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the deployment, with ICE and Homeland Security Investigations officers sent to airports including Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, New York's John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, Chicago O'Hare, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, and Fort Myers. TSA screening agents have been working without pay since a partial government shutdown began on February 14, 2026, prompting a surge in absences and resignations. On Saturday, March 21, absences among the approximately 50,000 TSA staff reached 11.5 percent, the highest rate since the shutdown began, according to DHS. At airports in Houston, New York, and Atlanta, more than one-third of TSA staff called in sick or were otherwise absent. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, the busiest U.S. airport, advised passengers to arrive at least four hours early for Monday flights, and waiting times at some checkpoints reached nearly six hours, with reports of only two TSA agents checking documents at certain points.

The partial government shutdown affecting DHS began on February 14, 2026, after congressional Democrats withheld funding in response to the deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed during an ICE immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Democrats have demanded reforms including requiring ICE agents to wear proper identification and banning the use of masks during operations, arguing that widespread mask use makes it difficult to hold individual agents accountable. The current funding lapse is the second prolonged shutdown for TSA workers in less than six months; in 2025, they worked without pay during a 43-day government shutdown, according to the Wall Street Journal. ICE itself remains fully operational, funded through a separate stream approved under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Trump urges ICE agents to remove masks at airports President Donald Trump publicly called on ICE agents deployed to airports to remove their face masks, framing the request as a gesture of openness in a civilian setting. „I am a BIG supporter of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals. I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, etc.” — Donald Trump via Wall Street Journal Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump also said he would consider deploying the National Guard if the ICE presence proved insufficient to bring airport lines under control. Trump separately suggested that ICE agents at airports could arrest undocumented immigrants, stating agents are now able to "arrest illegals as they come into the country," though he added they were "really there to help," according to the Guardian. Tom Homan, designated as border czar for Trump's second term, said ICE agents would act as a "force multiplier" in non-specialized roles, explicitly acknowledging that agents lack the training to operate security equipment such as X-ray machines. „There are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the nonsignificant roles, such as guarding an exit, so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker.” — Tom Homan via Al Jazeera Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl described the ICE officers' function as "nonspecialized security support," including crowd control, in a Fox News interview on Monday morning.

LaGuardia plane crash deepens Monday travel chaos The travel disruption on Monday was compounded by a fatal plane crash at LaGuardia Airport in New York, where a plane collided with a truck on the morning of March 23, killing two pilots, according to the Guardian. The crash caused LaGuardia to shut down, sending ripple effects through an already strained national air travel system. Passengers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson described scenes of extreme congestion, with security lines spilling out of terminals and onto the curb. Tom Healey, a traveler from Alpharetta, Georgia, told the Guardian he had been in line for three hours by 8 a.m. for a flight scheduled around 9 a.m. Another passenger, Karan Ghura, said he had been in line since 4 a.m., missed his original flight to Phoenix, and was standing in line again to book an alternative. Several passengers also reported that the Clear expedited security service was down at Atlanta, adding further delays for travelers who had paid for the bypass service.

Critics and allies alike question the ICE airport plan The deployment drew criticism from both Democratic lawmakers and at least one Republican senator. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN that ICE agents are "untrained individuals when it comes to doing the current job that they have," warning that deploying them in "highly sensitive situations at airports" would fuel tensions. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski called the measure a "bad idea," saying the priority should be resolving the DHS funding impasse and ensuring TSA agents are paid, according to Notícias ao Minuto. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, warned that ICE agents are neither trained nor certified in aviation security. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement that the federal deployment was "not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities," describing the ICE agents' role as limited to crowd management and managing security lines in domestic terminals. Billionaire Elon Musk posted on social media platform X on Saturday offering to pay TSA workers during the funding impasse, a proposal Trump told reporters he supported on Monday. „Yeah, I'd love it. I think it's great. Let him do that.” — Donald Trump via Wall Street Journal Congressional negotiations remained deadlocked as of Monday, with Democrats continuing to demand changes to ICE operational practices as a condition for restoring DHS funding.