Trump administration sends ICE to manage airport security lines

The Trump administration has begun deploying agents from ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to U.S. airports to assist with security line delays. These delays are caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown, which began on February 14. The shutdown has resulted in long lines at pre-gate security checkpoints, which are typically managed by TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents. Because of the shutdown, hundreds of thousands of Department of Homeland Security agents, including those at the TSA, have been working without pay. Tom Homan, the Trump border czar—an informal title for a government official overseeing border policy—stated that ICE agents would be deployed starting Monday to airports with the longest wait times, though he noted that details of the plan were still under discussion.

Even before the official deployment began, federal agents were seen making at least one arrest. On Sunday night, eyewitnesses at San Francisco International Airport filmed plain-clothed agents detaining a person, including a child, past the security line at a terminal gate. Jason Sweeney, a spokesperson for ICE, confirmed the arrest. Sweeney stated that the arrest occurred “before ICE officers were even deployed to bolster TSA efforts to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines across the country.” Following the deployment, ICE agents have been seen at several other airports. According to reporters with the Associated Press, agents were seen at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Guardian reported that ICE was seen at airports in Newark, New Orleans, and New York’s John F. Kennedy, while CNN reported that Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Phoenix, and San Juan are also among the deployment sites.

The deployment has drawn intense scrutiny from critics and lawmakers. Democrats are calling for changes to federal immigration operations following reports of abuse by agents, including the killing of two U.S. citizens earlier this year. There are also significant concerns regarding the technology the agency employs. ICE is known to use a wide variety of tools to identify and target individuals, including facial recognition apps and phone-unlocking tools to break into people’s devices. Additionally, the agency uses location data obtained from phone apps and games to monitor people’s whereabouts. Critics warn that placing these agents at civilian airports will increase tensions with travelers.

Why it matters

The presence of immigration enforcement at civilian transit hubs during a shutdown highlights the intersection of federal policy and personal privacy, particularly regarding the use of surveillance tools on travelers.