What happened
In response to a partial government shutdown causing over 50% of TSA officers to call in sick due to unpaid wages, President Trump has deployed ICE agents to work at airport security checkpoints starting today, March 23, 2026. The initiative follows Trump's social media announcement on March 21 directing ICE to "GET READY." White House Border Czar Tom Homan clarified on CNN that ICE agents will not replace TSA officers in screening bags or passengers but will sit at checkpoint exits to perform similar functions, allowing TSA staff to focus on screening. The TSA union criticized the move, noting that ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security, which requires specialized instruction and recertification. The deployment is expected to target airports with the highest rates of TSA sick calls. It remains unclear if ICE agents will wear masks or identify themselves