OAN Staff Lillian Mann
5:19 PM – Monday, March 23, 2026
President Donald Trump has deployed hundreds of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to major airports Monday, due to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.
Recent airport chaos has continued, with record-breaking wait times and lines looping outside of airport doors, along with the full closure of LaGuardia airport in New York after a fatal collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck.
Trending: Trump open to $5 billion ICE funding cut if SAVE Act package passes
Roughly 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are working without pay, and absences have increased significantly, causing longer lines and delays at security checkpoints. 400 TSA officers have reportedly quit since the shutdown began on February 14th.
ICE agents have been appearing at some of the nation’s busiest airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and JFK. However, an official list of airports that ICE agents will be deployed to has not been released and it remains unclear how many agents will be at each location.
The decision, directed by President Trump and overseen by Border Czar, Tom Homan, has been issued so ICE agents can assist with monitoring exits and managing crowds in order for TSA officers to stay focused on security screening.
“We’re simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise, such as screening through the X-ray machine. Not trained in that? We won’t do that. But there are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant roles, such as guarding an exit so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker,” Homan said.
Trump has also stated that the agents could also be used to “arrest illegals as they come into the country. That’s very fertile territory.”
Lines at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport have begun to wind outside of the airport in a loop on the curb. People hoping to make midmorning flights had been standing there since before sunrise.
On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying that ICE agents should not wear masks while patrolling airports, addressing an agreement between Democrats and the administration on how ICE operates.
The DHS shutdown stems from a funding standoff between Democrats and Republicans, largely driven by disagreements over immigration enforcement policies and proposed reforms to ICE.
ICE’s deployment is expected to continue and expand to more terminals. Officials will monitor staffing levels to determine if further airport closures are necessary.
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