Despite the deployment of over a dozen ICE agents to more than a dozen US airports, security lines remained long, with passengers waiting up to five hours in some cities. The agents’ presence has raised concerns about their role and potential impact on travelers with vulnerable immigration statuses. Many airports reported that the officers were not conducting screenings or identification checks, but rather assisting with crowd management and line control. The deployment comes as TSA workers continue to call out due to a partial government shutdown, which has affected millions of travelers.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/03/23/ice-agents-airports