ICE at Airports: Shutdown & Increased Security Checks

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began deploying to U.S. Airports Monday to assist Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to multiple reports. The move, announced by President Donald Trump on Sunday, comes as travelers face increasingly lengthy wait times and TSA employees perform without pay.

The first ICE agents were observed at airports in New Orleans and Atlanta, NBC News reported. White House border czar Tom Homan is leading the effort, with ICE officers tasked with supporting TSA by guarding exit lanes and checking passenger identification, freeing up TSA agents to focus on screening.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the deployment, stating it was a response to rising absences among TSA workers. According to DHS, over the weekend, more than a third of TSA staff at airports in Houston, New York City and Atlanta were absent or called out sick. The partial shutdown began on February 13th after funding for DHS lapsed.

President Trump stated that hundreds of ICE agents would be deployed to airports on Monday. However, DHS indicated it would not publicly share details about the deployment, though sources familiar with the plan told Reuters that the current plan calls for deploying agents to 14 locations, a figure that may change.

The deployment is occurring as lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding for DHS. The President has injected a new demand into negotiations, stating he will not agree to a deal unless Democrats support an elections overhaul bill that faces significant opposition in the Senate. Democrats and some Republicans are refusing to fund the annual budget for DHS over concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

On Sunday, LaGuardia Airport in New York City closed for a “thorough investigation” after an Air Canada passenger plane collided with a Port Authority fire truck, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot and injuries to two people in the truck. The airport was expected to remain closed until at least Monday afternoon.

As of Monday, it remained unclear how long the ICE deployment would last or whether it would fully alleviate the staffing shortages impacting airport security. DHS has not responded to requests for further details on the scope and duration of the operation.