ICE agents begin assisting at U.S. airports as TSA staffing shortages cause major delays

Beginning Monday, travelers at airports across the country may notice a new presence in security lines.

(NBC)- Beginning Monday, travelers at airports across the country may notice a new presence in security lines — agents in a different uniform.

The Trump administration has announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will begin assisting the Transportation Security Administration as airports deal with growing delays and staffing shortages.

At airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, travelers say the lines are already overwhelming.

“Oh I don’t know, a couple thousand people long right now…” one traveler said.

President Donald Trump revealed the move on social media, with White House border czar Tom Homan saying ICE agents will help with tasks like securing exits and checking IDs — but not screening luggage.

“Well, ICE isn’t trained on X-rays… and we’re not going to be doing that,” Homan said.

However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested ICE agents could play a broader role alongside TSA officers.

“TSA agents are law enforcement… they know how to run the X-ray machines,” Duffy said.

The rollout comes as details are still being finalized, and reactions from travelers are mixed.

“Anything to get things going,” said one passenger at Newark Airport.

Others are more concerned.

“Putting ICE in there just, to me, elevates tensions unnecessarily,” said a traveler in Oakland.

The move follows a prolonged funding standoff affecting the Department of Homeland Security. According to officials, more than 400 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began, with thousands more calling out as they miss paychecks.

“Checking accounts are all wiped out. We haven’t recovered from the last two that we’ve had before,” said a TSA union representative.

The impact is being felt nationwide, with security lines stretching outside terminals — including at airports in New Orleans and beyond.

Meanwhile, the political fight in Washington continues.

Republicans blame Democrats for the funding impasse, while Democrats are pushing a separate bill to fund TSA and other agencies not tied to immigration enforcement.

Adding to the uncertainty, President Trump is urging Republicans not to reach a deal unless Democrats agree to stricter voter ID measures under the proposed SAVE America Act.