ROMULUS, Mich. – Hundreds of ICE officers were deployed Monday to airports nationwide to assist Transportation Security Administration officers at security checkpoints during a busy spring break and holiday travel period, a move that sparked conversation among travelers.
The Department of Homeland Security said the deployment is intended to support safety and help minimize travel disruptions as TSA staffing has been strained during the partial government shutdown.
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At Detroit Metropolitan Airport, only uniformed TSA officers were seen working to move passengers through security lines.
Nina Mena, who flew into Detroit from Atlanta on Friday, described long lines and said she expects the added law enforcement presence to be noticeable on her next trip.
“There’s already a bad connotation with ICE, but if they’re there to help out and there’s no underground agenda, sure,” Mena said.
ICE agents were visible at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, one example of how the deployment is playing out at major hubs.
DHS said the shutdown has led more than 400 TSA officers to quit, with thousands more calling out because they can’t afford essentials such as gas, child care, food, or rent.
In a statement, the Airport Authority thanked TSA employees working through the shutdown, saying it “appreciates the dedicated TSA workers for their professionalism and commitment during the government shutdown.”
Some travelers reported smooth screening despite the staffing concerns.
“It was easy breezy getting through TSA, I didn’t even have to take off my shoes,” one passenger said.
Others questioned whether the agency needs assistance at checkpoints.
“TSA doesn’t appear to need help — are they crying for help? I don’t see how they need it. It’s scary,” said Kathy Ruzan of New Baltimore, who said she’d be uneasy flying back through an airport where ICE officers are working security lines.