The officers were seen in cities like Atlanta.
By Catholics for Catholics
Federal immigration officers patrolled terminals at some of the most active U.S. airports on Monday, positioning themselves near checkpoints and security lines after President Donald Trump deployed them during a partial government shutdown that has upset air travel across the country.
The officers have been spotted at an airport in Atlanta after President Donald Trump said he’d deploy them to supplement the Transportation Security Administration during a government shutdown that has provoked long lines at security checkpoints across the country.
On Monday morning, a handful of federal officers were seen by The Associated Press near busy lines at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Unmasked ICE agents have been deployed at major airports across the country Monday — and they’re already being hounded by flyers and photographers. https://t.co/TID6GidJia pic.twitter.com/luW4Nl90fU
— New York Post (@nypost) March 23, 2026
Federal police are a customary presence at international airports, where Customs and Border Protection officers check arriving travelers and Homeland Security Investigations agents supervise criminal cases linked to smuggling, trafficking and fraud, according to a story by Newsmax. But currently what’s uncommon is their conspicuousness at TSA security checkpoints.
On Sunday, the Trump administration announced that officers would be sent to large airports with the most wait times. Lauren Bis, the Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said that would include “hundreds” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, but she did not reveal all the airports they would go to, mentioning security reasons.
Since Congress did not renew DHS funding last month, hundreds of thousands of Homeland Security workers, including from the TSA, U.S. Secret Service, and Coast Guard, have worked without pay since. The ordeal has caused many TSA agents to call in sick — or even quit their jobs — as financial worries mount. Meanwhile, the staffing shortages have compelled some airports to close checkpoints at times, with wait times swinging intensely for travelers.
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