A Crisis Triggered by the Budget Shutdown Since February 14, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been partially paralyzed due to the lack of a congressional funding agreement. Nearly 50,000 TSA officers have been working without pay for over a month. As a result, more than 400 resignations and thousands of absences have been recorded, leading to the temporary closure of some checkpoints and record-long wait times. “We cannot allow American travelers to face three-hour lines at major airports. This situation is unacceptable,” Tom Homan stated on Sunday evening. Which Airports Are Affected? According to information confirmed by the DHS and local authorities, ICE agents have been deployed to the following airports (the list may expand):
Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson ATL) New York – John F. Kennedy (JFK) New York – LaGuardia (LGA) Newark Liberty (EWR) Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Hobby (HOU) Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) New Orleans (MSY) Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Fort Myers, Philadelphia, and several other major hubs.
San Francisco-area airports (SFO, OAK) are not currently included in this deployment. What Exactly Are ICE Agents Doing? Officials insist that this is not an immigration enforcement or deportation operation. ICE agents are assisting with:
Verifying identification documents Managing passenger flow and queue lines Monitoring secure areas and exits Allowing trained TSA officers to remain focused on screening and physical checkpoints.
President Trump described the measure as “common-sense leadership” and promised that ICE agents would stay “as long as necessary.” Mixed Reactions
Travelers: Some expressed relief as lines began moving faster, while others felt uneasy seeing visible ICE agents in tactical vests. Democrats and civil rights groups: Strong criticism, denouncing the “militarization” of airports and fearing a chilling effect on mixed-status families and minority travelers. Republicans: Strong support. They accuse Democrats of holding Americans “hostage” by blocking budget negotiations.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sought to reassure the public: “ICE agents are here solely to help move passengers through security efficiently. They are not conducting immigration operations.” Broader Context The deployment comes just days after the Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security. Negotiations on government funding remain tense, with the debate centered on immigration policy and the budget cuts sought by the Trump administration. So far, no major incidents have been reported related to the presence of ICE agents, but the situation continues to be closely monitored by airlines and passenger advocacy groups.