Trump orders ICE agents to U.S. airports as DHS shutdown deepens, saying move will ease TSA lines
President Donald Trump announced on March 22, 2026, that ICE agents would deploy to U.S. airports starting March 23 to assist unpaid TSA officers amid a partial DHS shutdown, aiming to reduce staffing shortages and long lines nationwide.
- ICE redeployment: The administration says ICE will perform lower-skill checkpoint tasks so TSA officers can focus on specialized screening (Axios).
- Start date: Announcement made March 22, deployment said to begin March 23 (Axios).
- Unclear scope: Exact numbers, airport list and timeline were not disclosed; legal and operational questions remain (Axios; video statements).
Details of the announcement
President Trump posted on his social media platform that “on Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job” despite the partial shutdown. He blamed “Radical Left Democrats” for blocking funding and said operations would include immigration enforcement. (Source: Axios)
The White House declined to offer a detailed briefing, referring reporters back to the president’s post when asked what roles ICE would perform at checkpoints. Acting White House border chief Tom Homan told CNN’s State of the Union that he and acting ICE Administrator Todd Lyons were finalizing plans to free up TSA agents for screening work by having ICE handle other tasks. “We’re simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise,” Homan said, adding ICE would not operate X-ray machines. (Video source: video)
Shutdown context and airport impacts
The announcement comes amid a partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding fight that has produced a rolling shutdown of many DHS operations since mid‑February. Lawmakers have repeatedly failed to pass measures to reopen parts of DHS. Democrats press for policy changes to ICE and CBP after a January incident in Minneapolis; Republicans have resisted linking policy changes to funding. (Source: Axios)
TSA staffing losses: The agency reported roughly 366–400 officers leaving or resigning since the shutdown began, producing longer lines at busy hubs and during spring break travel. Travelers nationwide have faced increased wait times. (Sources: Axios; video reports)
What the administration says the plan will do
Administration officials frame the ICE deployment as a short‑term, practical fix. Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the president is using “every available resource” to reduce wait times during peak travel. Homan said the plan would allow trained TSA officers to return to specialized screening work — such as operating X‑ray machines and pat‑downs — while ICE handles “non significant” roles like guarding exits and monitoring lines. Homan dismissed complexity concerns: “How complex is it to secure an exit?” (Sources: Axios; video).
Logistics, legal questions and unknowns
Many practical details remain unclear. The administration has not released the number of agents to be assigned, the list of airports involved, or how ICE would coordinate with airport and airline authorities. Axios notes the deployment might focus on the largest airports with the longest lines but offered no official list. There is no clear timeline beyond the stated start date. (Source: Axios)
Legal perspective: Legal experts say no federal law explicitly prevents an agency like ICE from performing certain duties at checkpoints if an acting TSA head authorizes it. Former TSA administrator John Pistole told Axios that, in theory, an acting TSA chief could allow other federal officers to perform non‑screening duties — but he cautioned that untrained personnel could create security risks if duties are not carefully limited and supervised.
Reactions from unions, lawmakers and security experts
The plan drew swift pushback. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the TSA union, rejected the idea that ICE can safely fill in for TSA duties, warning untrained ICE officers could create security gaps and further demoralize unpaid TSA screeners. (Source: Axios)
Lawmakers and unions: Sen. Patty Murray (D‑Wash.) warned the plan could lead to wrongful detentions and harassment of travelers and urged Congress to restore funding. Flight attendant unions called the move a “diversion” from paying TSOs. Former TSA administrator John Pistole said the move risks missed threats and could inflame confrontations between travelers and immigration agents. (Source: Axios)
Video coverage from airports showed mixed public reactions — some travelers relieved at efforts to cut lines, others alarmed by immigration agents on concourses. No federal confirmation was available Monday morning about where agents had been sent or how many had deployed. (Video sources: video; video.)
Potential risks and operational concerns
Security experts and former agency leaders raised several concerns:
- Training gap: TSA checkpoint duties typically require weeks to months of specific instruction; ICE officers do not receive that training and would not operate X‑ray or advanced screening equipment. (Source: Axios.)
- Public confrontations: ICE’s enforcement role could inflame encounters with travelers, leading to protests, delays or safety incidents. (Source: Axios.)
- Morale and legal risk: Using ICE instead of paid but unpaid TSOs could damage morale and raise legal questions about duty assignments and oversight. (Source: Axios.)
What’s driving the politics
Lawmakers have repeatedly failed to agree on a stable DHS funding plan. Democrats say the shutdown must be used to press for changes in ICE and CBP policy after deadly incidents that raised oversight concerns. Republicans have resisted tying reforms to immediate funding and rejected Democratic proposals to fund TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA separately. The stalemate has left DHS mismatched between operational needs and available funds. (Source: Axios.)
Implications for the United States
Economic impact: Longer lines and staffing instability can hit travel‑dependent local economies — airports, hotels, rental car businesses and small vendors — especially during peak travel weeks. The administration argues ICE deployment will blunt losses by shortening lines quickly. (Source: Axios.)
Political consequences: The move raises the stakes for Congress. Republicans defending the action may win praise from voters frustrated by delays; Democrats will use ICE’s presence to argue for policy change and full DHS funding. That split could harden positions and extend the shutdown. (Source: Axios.)
Social effects: Visibly armed immigration agents at checkpoints may intimidate families, older Americans and communities with large immigrant populations, prompting complaints, protests or altered travel plans. (Sources: Axios; video.)
Practical advice: Travelers should expect procedures to be in flux. If ICE is present, passengers may face interactions with agents who are not trained on screening equipment but may perform identity checks or monitor exits. Airport managers must coordinate with federal and local authorities; lawmakers and officials say a funding deal is the fastest fix to restore paid TSA staffing. (Sources: Axios; video.)
Reporting notes and sources
This article relies on reporting and video of officials’ statements and interviews published March 22–23, 2026. Key sources include Axios and video excerpts and interviews available online: video, video, video.
— End of reporting —
