TSA Lines Stretch Up to Six Hours as ICE Agents Deployed to Airports Amid Shutdown

Travelers across the United States faced long waits at airport security on Monday as the Trump administration deployed ICE and other Homeland Security agents to 14 airports to assist with overcrowded TSA checkpoints. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, some passengers reported waiting up to six hours to get through security, with lines snaking through three floors of the terminal.

The temporary staffing support comes amid a partial government shutdown, which has left many TSA officers unpaid. More than 3,400 officers, nearly 12% of scheduled staff, called out on Sunday, marking the highest absence rate since the shutdown began.

Lines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport stretched outside the terminal, causing frustration for travelers. While some welcomed the arrival of federal agents, others expressed doubt about their ability to ease the bottleneck. TSA union representative Pascual Contreras said, “I don’t believe that they’re trained in a way that can help us. I’ve seen them standing around; I don’t know if they are doing anything.”

President Trump has instructed the agents not to wear masks while on duty and has indicated that National Guard troops could be deployed if the shutdown continues. Meanwhile, Senate negotiations hit a roadblock on Monday after Trump urged Republicans to hold out for an elections bill opposed by Democrats, though some senators remain hopeful for a partial funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security.

The situation highlights the widespread disruption caused by the shutdown, with travelers and airport staff alike facing uncertainty and delays.