TSA Staffing Crisis Deepens as Immigration Agents Deploy to Airports

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers began assisting at airport security checkpoints on March 23, 2026, as the US government shutdown entered its sixth week. The deployment affects over a dozen airports, including Atlanta, John F. Kennedy, and LaGuardia, according to Reuters. ICE officers are not replacing TSA screeners in their core screening function and are limited to supporting roles such as guarding exit lanes and managing crowds. The move comes as TSA absenteeism has climbed sharply, with 11.5% of employees absent, and more than 400 TSA employees have resigned since the shutdown started. As the shutdown fight centers on funding for ICE within the Department of Homeland Security, the deployment has drawn criticism from labor unions and Democrats, who say the White House should focus on restoring pay for TSA workers. According to AeroTime, the administration’s public messaging on the deployment has been inconsistent, with President Trump suggesting ICE agents could arrest undocumented immigrants, but local officials have indicated the airport mission is not intended as an immigration enforcement sweep.