The Trump administration has announced plans to send US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports in an effort to ease growing delays at security checkpoints during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.
President Donald Trump said in a social media post that ICE agents would begin arriving at airports on Monday. Border czar Tom Homan later confirmed in interviews that the administration was still finalising how the deployment would work.
The decision has already drawn criticism, especially from the union representing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers. Union officials argued that TSA employees, many of whom have continued working without pay, should be compensated rather than supplemented by armed agents who are not specifically trained for airport screening duties.
Long Security Lines Amid Shutdown
Travellers across the United States have recently faced extended waits at airport checkpoints as the partial shutdown affecting DHS continues. The department has lacked funding since mid-February after Congress failed to reach an agreement, leaving many airport security employees on the job without pay.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that ICE would be sent to help “our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job.” His announcement followed an earlier warning that immigration officers could be used at airports unless Democrats agreed to approve funding for DHS.
In a post the previous day, Trump said he would shift ICE personnel to airports, claiming they could handle security in a highly effective manner.
ICE Role Still Being Defined
According to Homan, ICE officers will not take over passenger screening directly. Instead, the plan is for them to support operations in other parts of the airport, allowing TSA officers to focus on the screening work they are specifically trained to perform.
Homan said one possible role for ICE agents would be covering entry and exit points, which could free up TSA staff and help reduce long lines at checkpoints. He added that discussions were still underway between TSA and ICE officials, including how many agents would be involved, but said the details were expected to be settled before Monday’s deployment.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy also suggested that ICE personnel could have a broader support function. Speaking to ABC News, he said ICE agents already have relevant experience because they operate similar security equipment at the southern border to inspect people and packages.
He said the administration believes ICE agents have the training needed to provide assistance where necessary.
Criticism From Labour Leaders and Democrats
The plan has sparked concern from labour representatives and Democratic lawmakers.
In comments to CNN, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said deploying ICE officers to airports was not what the public needed, arguing that many of those agents are not trained for the sensitive environment of airport security operations.
He warned that placing them in such roles could create additional concerns rather than solve existing problems.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents TSA staff, also condemned the move. Union president Everett Kelley said TSA officers have continued reporting to work without pay because they are committed to keeping the public safe.
He said those workers deserve salaries, not replacement or reinforcement from armed agents who are not trained for the same responsibilities.
Staffing Pressure Grows
The funding deadlock has placed mounting pressure on TSA operations. According to the White House, more than 400 TSA agents have resigned since the partial shutdown began, while absences have also increased as unpaid staff struggle under the prolonged budget impasse.
TSA officers are responsible for screening passengers and baggage for hazardous items, making them essential to airport safety and daily travel operations.
A DHS spokesperson told CBS News that the president was using every available tool to support travellers during the disruption. The spokesperson blamed Democrats for allowing air travel safety and reliability to be put at risk and said hundreds of ICE officers already funded by Congress could be deployed to airports facing the worst effects of the shutdown.
The BBC said it had contacted ICE for comment.
Broader Political Tensions
The shutdown dispute is unfolding alongside wider criticism of ICE from Democrats, who have been pushing for reforms following two fatal incidents in Minneapolis earlier this year involving federal immigration agents and anti-raid protesters.
In response, Democrats have called for stricter oversight of immigration officers, including better identification requirements, limits on face coverings, and tighter rules governing warrants.
Efforts to resolve the immediate funding issue have so far stalled. A bill that would have funded DHS and ensured payment for airport TSA staff failed to move forward in the Senate on Friday, leaving the impasse unresolved.
As the shutdown continues, the plan to bring ICE agents into airports is likely to intensify debate over security, staffing, and the role of immigration enforcement personnel in civilian travel settings.