Federal Government Deploys Immigration Agents to US Airports Amid Shutdown
Washington, D.C., Sunday, 22 March 2026.
To combat severe shutdown delays, immigration agents will assist airport security starting Monday—an unprecedented move where officers will also enforce immigration laws at transit hubs.
Shifting from Threat to Operational Reality
The ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, has already caused severe operational strain across the aviation sector [3][6]. As previously reported (https://www.example.com/article), the Trump administration has decided to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel to airports across the country to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with security screenings.
Border Czar Confirms ICE Deployment
White House Border Czar Tom Homan, who is in charge of executing the President’s decision, confirmed the deployment details on Sunday [4]. Homan stated that ICE personnel will step in to assist the TSA with managing the overwhelming security lines [1][3]. While Homan acknowledged that ICE agents lack the specialized training required to operate X-ray machines, they will be positioned at entrances, exits, and other areas to alleviate bottlenecks [1][2][3]. The administration is actively finalizing the specific airports that will receive additional ICE support.