The Trump administration has expanded the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at major U.S. airports, allowing agents to conduct identification checks at security checkpoints as a prolonged Department of Homeland Security shutdown strains the nation's aviation system.
The move, confirmed by officials and lawmakers this week, marks a significant shift in how airport security is managed, placing immigration enforcement personnel in positions traditionally held by Transportation Security Administration officers. The deployment follows an order by President Donald Trump on March 24 to supplement airport staffing amid mounting workforce shortages.
Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told a House committee that ICE agents are now operating credential authentication machines after receiving "standard TSA training," signaling a rapid expansion beyond their initially described role of crowd management and logistical support.
The operational shift comes as TSA faces what officials describe as its most severe staffing crisis to date. Since the shutdown began on Feb. 14, more than 480 officers have resigned, while absentee rates have climbed sharply.
Key indicators cited by TSA leadership include:
- National callout rates rising from 4% to over 11%
- Some airports exceeding 40% absenteeism
- Houston's Hobby Airport reaching a 55% callout rate in a single day
- Nearly $1 billion in unpaid wages owed to TSA personnel
The strain has translated into visible disruptions. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, wait times have exceeded four hours, underscoring the operational pressure on remaining staff.
ICE's presence has been confirmed at more than 15 airports, including major hubs in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, and San Juan. At John F. Kennedy International Airport, officials said agents were being trained to verify traveler identification, while in Phoenix, ICE personnel were seen checking documents and assisting with baggage operations.
The expansion has triggered legal and political backlash. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a challenge, warning that the policy risks blurring the line between aviation security and immigration enforcement.
Naureen Shah, the ACLU's director of policy and government affairs for immigration, said the deployment represents a departure from precedent, describing it as the first time a president has sent "armed agents to the airport to inspire fear among families."
Concerns intensified following a widely reported incident at San Francisco International Airport, where ICE agents detained Angelina Lopez-Jimenez and her nine-year-old daughter after TSA flagged their names on a flight manifest. The pair, who had a prior removal order, were deported within 48 hours, according to reporting by The New York Times.
Local officials have also weighed in. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner warned agents against exceeding their authority, while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said ICE personnel were "not welcome" at city airports.
Administration officials, including border policy adviser Tom Homan, have defended the deployment as a necessary response to staffing shortages, initially describing ICE's duties as "non-specialised security functions." The subsequent expansion into ID verification reflects the scale of operational gaps facing TSA.
