WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy federal immigration officers to U.S. airports amid a partial government shutdown is raising concerns over safety and operational effectiveness.
The president said Sunday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel would assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with tasks such as line management, crowd control, and checking passenger IDs, unless Congress funded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Hundreds of thousands of DHS employees, including TSA agents, Secret Service, and Coast Guard personnel, have been working without pay since the shutdown began last month. TSA staff shortages have caused hourslong security lines, with Houston airports seeing some of the nation’s highest callout rates. At Bush Intercontinental Airport, wait times exceeded two hours, while at Hobby Airport, lines were shorter but still disruptive.
Trump named former border czar Tom Homan to oversee the airport deployment. Homan said ICE officers would be “a force multiplier” for TSA, covering exit lanes or checking IDs but not operating screening machines, which require specialized training. DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis confirmed that “hundreds” of officers would be deployed, but did not disclose specific airports.
Critics argue the plan could heighten tensions. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, called it a “bad idea,” warning that frustrated travelers and unpaid TSA agents could make the situation worse. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, condemned the deployment, saying ICE officers are untrained in aviation security and should not replace TSA staff.
Budget negotiations remain stalled. Democrats have offered to fund TSA and most DHS operations while pressing for reforms to immigration enforcement after the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during an ICE operation. Trump has criticized Democrats for holding funding hostage and emphasized the airport deployment as a way to relieve travel disruptions.
Airports in Atlanta, New York, and Houston have seen particularly long lines, with some travelers waiting hours to pass through security. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that uncertainty about wait times is a key concern for passengers, while Senate Republicans cautiously welcomed the plan as a potential relief for overburdened TSA staff.
The deployment is expected to begin immediately at major airports experiencing long waits, though precise numbers and locations remain under discussion. Officials stress that ICE personnel will report to TSA and will not conduct immigration enforcement during the operation.