Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been sent to fourteen U.S. airports as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding standoff continues to disrupt airport operations. However, the story has now entered a new phase after the Senate approved a bill to restore funding for most of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The measure passed the Senate early Friday and now moves to the House. It does not include funding for ICE or Border Patrol operations, which remain at the center of the broader immigration fight that triggered the shutdown. That means the airport crisis may begin to ease if the House acts, but it is not over yet.
According to Reuters, ICE officers were deployed to help support airport operations during severe TSA staffing shortages caused by the partial shutdown, while lawmakers separately moved to restore pay for TSA agents and most other DHS personnel. The airport list that has emerged through national and local reporting includes Chicago O’Hare, Cleveland Hopkins, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, George Bush Intercontinental, William P. Hobby, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Luis Muñoz Marín International in San Juan, Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh International, and Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers.
What ICE Officers Are Doing And What The Senate Vote Means For Travelers
Federal officials have made it clear that ICE officers are not replacing TSA screeners in the full screening role. The officers were sent to help with crowd control and support for the security line as TSA absences climbed. More detailed reporting from the Houston Chronicle said ICE officers who received TSA training were guarding entrances and exits, assisting with logistics, helping manage crowds, and verifying identification so TSA officers could remain focused on screening passengers and baggage.
Separately, the Senate unanimously approved a bill to fund TSA and most other DHS agencies. The measure excludes ICE and Border Patrol and still requires House passage before it can be signed into law. The vote came as airports continued to deal with long lines and staffing strain tied to the partial shutdown.
