Trump Deploys ICE Agents to Major Airports Amid 40‑Day DHS Shutdown as Democrats Condemn Move
President Trump has ordered ICE agents to assist TSA at roughly 14 major airports as the DHS shutdown nears 40 days, a stopgap move prompted by missed paychecks, mass TSA callouts and multi‑hour security lines that have left many checkpoints severely understaffed. Democrats blasted the deployment as a dangerous and politicized mismatch of missions and training, even as Trump has tied DHS funding to his SAVE America Act—complicating Senate efforts to restore TSA pay while carving out ICE operations.
📌 Key Facts
- The administration moved from proposal to implementation by deploying ICE agents to assist TSA at 14 major U.S. airports — including JFK, Hartsfield‑Jackson (Atlanta), and Houston Bush Intercontinental — primarily for line management and crowd control while TSA continues ID checks and screening.
- The deployments come amid a partial DHS shutdown nearing 40 days; TSA officers have been unpaid since mid‑February, with national sick‑out rates peaking around 11–12% (more than 3,200–3,400 missed shifts), over 450 resignations, and localized callout rates of roughly 36–40% at some airports (HOU, IAH, ATL, MSY).
- Passengers experienced severe delays — widely reported waits of 3–6 hours and some claims up to nine hours — with security lines stretching through multiple floors, subway corridors and outside terminals; PreCheck and CLEAR lanes were closed at some airports and ADA access was strained.
- DHS and the administration defended the move: Acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said the deployment eased delays and blamed Democrats for the shutdown; ICE officers remain paid because their salaries are funded from a separate multi‑year appropriation outside the shuttered DHS operating budget.
- President Trump publicly linked DHS funding to passage of the SAVE America Act (voter‑ID/proof‑of‑citizenship measures) at a Memphis roundtable, delayed funding talks until a new DHS secretary was confirmed (Markwayne Mullin), and floated additional options such as National Guard support if needed — actions that complicated negotiations.
- Congressional negotiators are split: Senate Republicans circulated a framework to restore most DHS funding while carving out ICE (reportedly funding ~94% of DHS and excluding $5.5 billion for ICE), which Democrats rejected; bipartisan talks have considered statutory guardrails on ICE/CBP, body‑camera and ID mandates as part of any deal.
- The move is politically controversial: Democratic leaders, some House members and advocacy groups condemned placing ICE at airports, citing public‑safety concerns, potential for escalation, inadequate training for screening roles, and a chilling effect on travelers; other lawmakers and experts warned the deployment is both an operational stopgap and a political symbol.
- Operational and commercial impacts have mounted: airlines have adjusted services (Delta suspended specialty services for lawmakers; United signaled summer flight cuts and recent fare increases), and TSA union leaders and passengers urged Congress to pass DHS funding to restore pay and staffing.
📊 Relevant Data
Between April 2020 and July 2024, the Atlanta metropolitan region gained nearly 135,000 people from international migration, contributing to overall population growth and increased demand on infrastructure including airports.
In 2025, international passenger traffic at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport increased by 2.5% to 12.4 million passengers compared to 2024, indicating sustained growth in air travel demand amid population changes.
Houston Airports closes 2025 with strong international growth, record cargo — Houston Airports
Immigrant workers fill 15% of all jobs in Georgia and contribute 14.4% of the state's economic output as of 2025, with higher representations in sectors like construction (15%) and reflecting their role in population and economic growth.
What you need to know about the Georgia economy and immigrant workers — Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Democrats broke airport security. Now they're calling the solution dangerous
"The opinion defends the Trump administration’s deployment of ICE agents to airports during a DHS shutdown as lawful and necessary, and criticizes Democrats for politicizing TSA funding and opposing the move for partisan reasons."
📰 Source Timeline (19)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 25, 2026
3:00 PM
Democrats rip Trump’s ICE airport move as shutdown nears 40 days: ‘no reason’
New information:
- Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) said, "There’s absolutely no reason for him to do that," arguing TSA funding should be separated from the broader DHS gridlock rather than using ICE agents.
- Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) called the deployment a "horrible, horrible idea" and warned that ICE’s immigration‑enforcement mission at major travel hubs would clash with airport security needs.
- Grijalva raised concerns that ICE agents would not receive the same level of security training as TSA officers and said the presence of ICE at airports could unsettle international travelers.
- The piece reiterates DHS figures that more than 366 TSA agents have left and notes TSA agents missed their first full paychecks on March 13, underscoring the shutdown’s impact on staffing.
2:59 PM
The Latest: DHS officials to give update to Congress as travel delays worsen
New information:
- The article reiterates that President Donald Trump has ordered ICE officers to provide airport security during the TSA staffing crisis, noting that the move is alarming some lawmakers.
- It links that deployment to concrete on‑the‑ground effects, including four‑hour security lines at Houston Bush Intercontinental and 40%+ TSA callout rates that ICE deployments are attempting to backfill.
- Union leader Hydrick Thomas is quoted telling reporters: 'Stop asking me about the long lines. Ask me if somebody’s gonna eat today,' underscoring the financial hardship driving absenteeism.
1:14 PM
Fate of Senate funding deal looks uncertain as DHS shutdown grinds on
New information:
- Updates the shutdown timeline to Day 40 and places the ICE‑to‑airports move in the context of a Senate GOP offer to fund 94% of DHS while carving out $5.5 billion for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
- Shows that Democrats have now rejected that carve‑out proposal and are vowing a counteroffer with "significant" ICE reforms, hardening partisan lines.
- Adds that the Senate is slated for a two‑week recess later this week, increasing pressure to fix TSA pay before lawmakers leave town.
- Clarifies how Trump’s current posture — publicly discouraging a deal and demanding focus on SAVE America — is complicating the prospects for any near‑term agreement to get TSA back on payroll.
- Introduces Lindsey Graham’s promise to craft a second reconciliation bill for ICE and elections provisions as the likely vehicle to resolve the unfunded part of DHS, even as critics question its viability.
12:35 PM
Shock, disbelief at Houston airport as 36% of TSA officers call out: "Insane"
New information:
- At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, 36% of TSA officers called out of work, producing security lines that snaked underground, across terminals and even outside the building.
- Travelers at Houston described the situation as "insane" and unlike anything they had previously experienced, underscoring the real‑world effects of the TSA pay lapse.
- United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told CBS News his airline is cutting about 5% of flights this summer and has raised fares roughly 15–20% in the last month because Iran war–driven oil prices have spiked, and he publicly urged Congress to “get the deal done soon.”
- The article details that Senate Republicans have proposed funding most of DHS while excluding ICE’s deportation division, and Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, are refusing a deal without "strong, strong reforms" to ICE.
9:00 AM
A deal to end the DHS shutdown takes shape — but leaves both parties uneasy
New information:
- The article confirms that congressional negotiators are now coalescing around a specific framework that could restore pay and funding to TSA and most of DHS while leaving ICE enforcement and removal operations unresolved.
- It provides fresh detail on how the emerging funding structure interacts with Democrats’ insistence on policy reforms at ICE, including limitations on administrative warrants and use of masked agents, which are not addressed in the GOP proposal.
- The piece gives updated on‑record reactions from Senate leaders and key swing votes that will determine whether TSA relief and broader DHS funding can pass despite the contentious ICE carveout.
March 24, 2026
8:16 PM
Fetterman slams Democratic 'mess' as TSA workers miss paychecks during DHS shutdown
New information:
- Adds explicit on‑camera comments from Sen. John Fetterman criticizing his fellow Democrats’ role in the DHS funding standoff and vowing not to participate in future shutdowns.
- Clarifies that Democrats are seeking DHS carve‑outs to fund TSA and other components without fully funding ICE, which Republicans are rejecting, sharpening the partisan contours behind the airport deployment decision.
- Provides Fetterman’s on‑the‑ground detail that he has been speaking regularly with unpaid TSA agents and that they rely on roughly $50,000‑a‑year salaries now halted by the shutdown.
6:59 PM
Delta suspends special services for lawmakers amid government shutdown
New information:
- Delta Air Lines says it is suspending specialty services for members of Congress because the prolonged shutdown and TSA staffing issues are straining its resources.
- The article documents passenger accounts from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport describing hours‑long TSA lines with poor access to water and air conditioning.
- It underscores that lawmakers will now experience the same degraded airport conditions as regular passengers when flying Delta unless they have elite SkyMiles status.
- The piece notes travelers’ explicit calls for Congress to pass a DHS funding measure and reopen the government.
- It adds that Senate Republicans have sent Democrats a formal DHS offer and are signaling they "have" a solution, suggesting possible movement toward ending the shutdown.
6:33 PM
TSA callouts hit Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans hardest, 450 officers have quit nationwide
New information:
- DHS says more than 3,200 TSA workers called out from their Monday shifts, with the Sunday national callout rate peaking at 11.6% during the shutdown.
- DHS reports that more than 450 TSA officers have quit during the shutdown, citing inability to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent.
- DHS callout‑rate rankings show Houston’s Hobby (HOU) at 40.3%, Atlanta (ATL) at 37.4%, Houston’s Bush Intercontinental (IAH) at 36.1% and New Orleans (MSY) at 34.9%, with JFK, BWI, PIT, LGA, PHL and PHX also listed.
- Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis issues a partisan statement calling it 'Day 38 of the Democrats’ shutdown' and credits Trump’s deployment of ICE agents with easing security delays, including reported waits of up to nine hours in Atlanta.
- Article notes social‑media videos showing ICE agents in Houston handing out water to travelers in long lines and reports that lines in Atlanta appeared lighter on Tuesday than during the prior spring‑break weekend peak.
6:01 PM
Why do ICE agents get paid during the partial government shutdown, but not TSA?
New information:
- Explains that ICE agents assisting at airports are being paid because their salaries come from a separate four‑year appropriation in Trump’s 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, not the shuttered DHS operating budget.
- Details that about 95% of TSA’s 60,000 workers are classified as 'essential' and must report without pay until Congress passes DHS funding, with statutory back pay owed later under a 2019 law.
- Provides historical context that after the previous 43‑day shutdown in fall 2025, outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem handed out $10,000 bonuses to some TSA staff, highlighting how shutdowns have become recurring labor flashpoints at the agency.
- Clarifies that Trump has publicly floated deploying the National Guard to airports if ICE and TSA cannot keep up with security lines, underscoring the administration’s willingness to use uniformed forces in civilian aviation settings.
3:44 PM
WATCH LIVE: Senate meets as lawmakers consider deal to fund Homeland Security
New information:
- Provides a Senate‑focused view that Trump’s move to order ICE into airport security roles is viewed by lawmakers as 'extraordinary' and potentially escalating tensions, rather than just a stopgap.
- Connects that deployment to an emerging bipartisan Senate deal to restore TSA and broader DHS funding while specifically excluding ICE deportation operations.
- Details that negotiators are considering statutory guardrails on ICE and CBP roles plus body‑camera and ID mandates as conditions for funding.
12:33 PM
Some travelers navigate TSA wait times as long as 6 hours as ICE agents are sent to airports
New information:
- CBS video piece provides on‑the‑ground accounts from travelers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport experiencing TSA wait times of up to six hours.
- It visually documents security lines at Atlanta’s airport stretching all the way outside the terminal, reinforcing the scale of the disruption.
- Confirms that the ICE and other DHS agents deployed to 14 airports are now physically present on site as those delays play out.
12:04 PM
TSA wait times up to 6 hours as ICE, other agents deployed to 14 airports
New information:
- Reports that some travelers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport faced security wait times of up to six hours, with lines snaking through a subway corridor, baggage claim and three floors.
- Updated sick‑out figure: more than 3,400 TSA officers — nearly 12% of those scheduled — called out on Sunday, the highest level since the start of the partial shutdown.
- On‑the‑ground description that ICE and other DHS agents are being used to 'shuttle passengers through overcrowded TSA checkpoints,' with a union rep saying he has mainly seen them 'standing around' and questioning whether they are properly trained.
- Disclosure that President Trump has told federal agents not to wear masks while working at airports and has said they may soon be joined by National Guard troops if there is no deal to end the shutdown.
- Note that Senate talks to end the shutdown hit a new roadblock after Trump publicly urged Republicans to hold out for passage of an elections bill Democrats strongly oppose, even as some senators still see a path to fund parts of DHS.
9:00 AM
ICE arrives at clogged airports. But security lines, DHS shutdown persist.
New information:
- Christian Science Monitor confirms ICE personnel arrived or were expected at more than a dozen airports on Monday, including Phoenix, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston, New York City and New Orleans, while DHS declines to list locations citing operational security.
- Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson International Airport urged travelers to arrive at least four hours early because of "TSA staffing constraints," and Mayor Andre Dickens detailed that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations staff will assist with line management and crowd control, not immigration enforcement.
- Acting assistant DHS secretary Lauren Bis issued a statement blaming Democrats for risking "safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel" and framing the ICE deployment as the president "taking action" to keep airports running during the shutdown.
- The article notes that expected DHS funding negotiations did not happen Monday because President Trump chose to wait for confirmation of a new DHS secretary; Markwayne Mullin was confirmed Monday night, meaning the shutdown has now stretched to roughly six weeks and could easily run into mid‑April as Congress heads into a two‑week Easter recess.
- Political‑communications expert Cayce Myers is quoted saying the move will amplify talking points on both sides—Democrats critical of ICE, and Trump arguing he had to "resort to alternative means" to keep TSA functioning—highlighting the deployment’s role as a political symbol as well as an operational patch.
March 23, 2026
9:50 PM
TSA lines at Houston airport a 3-floor nightmare amid staffing shortage
New information:
- At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, nearly 40% of TSA employees called out on Monday, leaving only two of the airport’s five terminals staffed by TSA officers.
- Security lines in Terminal A became a three‑floor queue stretching into the airport’s underground train system, with announced TSA wait times exceeding four hours and some travelers reporting three‑plus‑hour waits in both staffed terminals.
- CBS News directly observed roughly two dozen armed ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents at Bush Intercontinental stationed along security lines, directing passengers at choke points while TSA officers continued to handle ID checks and screening.
- Houston airport announcements are warning passengers that, because of the federal shutdown, they may not clear security in time for departing flights and should contact airlines to rebook; some travelers have missed flights, with one gate agent telling a passenger that about 40 people missed a single leg the day before.
- PreCheck and CLEAR lanes at Houston were closed, forcing all passengers through standard lines with no access to food while waiting; the route is not ADA‑compliant, requiring separate handling for wheelchair users.
9:37 PM
Top Dems assert there's risk ICE agents could ‘kill’ travelers under Trump airport plan
New information:
- Confirms that ICE agents actually arrived at JFK and Hartsfield-Jackson on March 23, 2026, as part of deployments to 14 airports.
- Provides direct Democratic leadership reactions framing the ICE deployment as a public-safety threat, not just an operational stopgap.
- Adds specific rhetoric about potential shootings and killings, indicating how far opposition leaders are willing to go in characterizing the risk to travelers.
8:25 PM
DHS funding talks in limbo after Trump insists GOP pass SAVE America Act
New information:
- Advances the shutdown timeline from 36 days in earlier coverage to 38 days, indicating no resolution and worsening conditions.
- Documents Trump’s Memphis speech where he demands SAVE America be 'welded in' to DHS funding and tells Republicans to 'make this one for Jesus,' adding color and specificity to his linkage of the two issues.
- Introduces new intra‑GOP dynamics, with Thune and Kennedy both publicly mulling a path to fund TSA and other DHS components without ICE as a potential off‑ramp.
6:51 PM
Trump demands SAVE America Act be tied to DHS funding amid airport chaos
New information:
- Trump used a Memphis law‑enforcement roundtable to insist that Republicans "don’t make any deal on anything" regarding DHS funding unless it includes the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
- He described his goal as merging DHS funding with the SAVE America Act into "the great, big, beautiful bill" and said voter ID and proof of citizenship are parts of homeland security.
- Fox reiterates that ICE agents were deployed to airports Monday to assist TSA in managing crowds and non‑screening duties amid unpaid TSA staff and long security lines.
5:30 PM
ICE agents start assisting TSA at U.S. airports as partial government shutdown continues
New information:
- Confirms that the administration’s plan to send ICE agents to assist TSA at airports has moved from proposal to active implementation.
- Reinforces that TSA officers have been unpaid since mid‑February, leading to resignations and call‑outs that necessitated ICE support.
- Provides a mainstream network TV verification that ICE is now part of the stopgap for maintaining airport security throughput during the shutdown.