Federal immigration agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived at multiple U.S. airports Monday to assist Transportation Security Administration staff after long security waits during a partial Department of Homeland Security funding lapse. The move followed a social media message from President Trump announcing the deployment and came as travelers reported unusually long lines.
Where agents were seen
- New Orleans: ICE officers were photographed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport while travelers passed through security.
- Atlanta: Agents were observed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as lines stretched toward the exit.
Why this is happening
The partial shutdown stems from a budget stalemate in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have tied funding to changes in immigration enforcement policy after recent incidents involving ICE deployments, while Republicans rejected an offer to fund only non-immigration parts of DHS, including TSA. ICE has separate funding and is not affected by the shutdown.
What the president said
President Trump announced the deployment in a social media post, writing, "On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job."
Operational questions
Important distinction: TSA officers receive specialized training for airport screening and threat detection. ICE personnel do not have the same training for routine airport security duties, so how smoothly they will fit into these roles is unclear.
Other disruptions at major airports
- LaGuardia Airport: A late Sunday plane crash forced the airport to shut down until at least the following afternoon.
- Newark Airport: Flights were paused after smoke was reported inside the air-traffic control tower.
Travelers should expect delays and remain prepared for changing conditions while airports manage staffing and ongoing safety issues.
