Tom Homan Details ICE Deployment Plan As Airport Chaos Intensifies
Border czar Tom Homan laid out how Americans can expect Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate inside airports starting Monday, as the Trump administration moves to stabilize worsening travel delays tied to the ongoing DHS shutdown.
Speaking on CNN, Homan emphasized that ICE agents will not replace TSA screeners but will instead take on supporting roles that allow trained TSA personnel to focus on critical security functions.
NEWS: White House Border Czar Tom Homan confirms President Trump will send ICE agents into airports across the country tomorrow. “We’ll have a plan by the end of today what airports we’re starting with and where we’re sending them,” Homan tells @DanaBashCNN. pic.twitter.com/Ue2VNlpKw6
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) March 22, 2026
“They’re not going to be running X-ray machines,” Homan explained. “But they can handle things like securing exits, monitoring access points, and helping with general security duties.”
The strategy is designed to relieve pressure on the Transportation Security Administration, which has been hit hard by the shutdown. With tens of thousands of workers missing paychecks, absenteeism has surged and staffing shortages have led to massive lines at airports nationwide.
Homan pointed out that ICE already operates in airport environments, particularly on immigration enforcement matters, and said the additional deployment is a natural extension of that presence.
“We do immigration enforcement at airports all the time,” he said. “This is about helping TSA do their mission and moving people through safely and quickly.”
The exact rollout is still being finalized, but Homan indicated that the first wave of deployments will likely target the busiest airports experiencing the longest delays.
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, wait times have surged past two hours, while George Bush Intercontinental Airport has seen delays approaching 90 minutes or more.
Travel disruptions have spread across the country, with viral footage showing security lines stretching through terminals and even into parking areas at major hubs.
When pressed on how quickly the plan is being implemented, Homan pushed back on concerns about preparation.
“How much of a plan does it take to guard an exit?” he said, arguing that ICE agents are already highly trained in security and identification tasks.
The deployment comes as the DHS shutdown, which began in mid-February, continues to ripple through the nation’s transportation system. More than 300 TSA agents have reportedly quit, while many others are calling out or seeking second jobs to make ends meet.
President Donald Trump has framed the move as a necessary step to restore order at airports, arguing that federal resources must be reallocated to prevent further disruption to travelers.
With no immediate resolution in sight on Capitol Hill, the administration is moving forward with its contingency plan, signaling that ICE’s presence at airports could expand if staffing shortages continue to worsen.