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ICE Agents Deployed to 14 U.S. Airports as TSA Shortages Deepen

The move is designed to pressure Democrats in a DHS funding standoff that has left TSA staff unpaid.

Overview

  • Homeland Security officials said several hundred ICE personnel began patrolling at more than a dozen airports, with reporters observing armed agents at JFK and Newark wearing body cameras.
  • ICE lacks TSA training and required clearances for screening, and Tom Homan said agents will not operate scanners and may instead monitor exits or assist with crowd flow.
  • Hours-long lines persisted on Monday, including waits of up to four hours in Atlanta, and it remains unclear whether the deployment will reduce delays.
  • President Trump suggested he could also send the National Guard to airports if the ICE presence proves insufficient.
  • Democrats are withholding DHS funding pending ICE reforms after fatal January shootings in Minneapolis, as TSA absenteeism and resignations have surged during the partial shutdown.