politics
March 23, 2026
TSA lines stretch for hours as Trump deploys ICE agents to US airports
President claims immigration agents could help manage long lines as TSA agents go unpaid during partial shutdown
TL;DR
- TSA agents are going unpaid due to the partial government shutdown, leading to many not reporting for work and hundreds reportedly quitting.
- Long security lines formed at U.S. airports, with passengers facing hours of delays.
- President Trump deployed ICE agents to 11 cities to assist with passenger screening, claiming they could help manage long lines.
- The deployment of ICE agents was controversial, with some critics calling them "secret police" and others expressing concern about their training and potential for profiling.
- Airport officials stated the ICE personnel were assigned to support operational needs like line management and crowd control, not immigration enforcement.
- A fatal plane crash at LaGuardia Airport caused its shutdown, exacerbating travel disruptions.
- Clear, a service allowing passengers to bypass security lines, experienced service disruptions attributed to staffing shortages.
- Wait times varied significantly by airport, with Houston experiencing long queues and Chicago and Philadelphia reporting negligible waits.
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