Agents Respond to Staffing Shortages
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been deployed to 14 airports nationwide to assist the understaffed Transportation Security Administration amid a partial government shutdown that began on Feb. 14. The deployment comes as some airports experience security lines stretching for hours, exacerbated by TSA agents missing paychecks.
Houston Airport Gridlock
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is experiencing significant delays, with nearly 40% of TSA employees calling out. Only two of the airport's five terminals had TSA staffing. The security line in Terminal A turned into a three-floor nightmare stretching into the airport's underground train system. Wait times exceeded four hours, with some passengers reporting waits of five or six hours. The airport warned travelers that wait times are exceeding four hours and to contact their airlines for rebooking options.
The sources also report that PreCheck and CLEAR lanes were closed, forcing all passengers into the same clogged lines.
ICE Presence at Security Checkpoints
CBS News spotted approximately two dozen ICE officers, most armed and identified as ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. ICE agents are directing passengers and trying to keep lines moving at choke points, while TSA officers handle ID checks and screening machines. Videos of ICE officers at airports began circulating on social media.
Passenger Frustrations Mount
Passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport expressed frustration with the long wait times. One woman broke down in tears after missing her flight to Philadelphia. Another passenger planned to spend the night at the airport ahead of a flight to ensure he gets on. Families struggled to calm babies and small children while waiting in line without access to food.
Political Fallout
President Trump called airports "fertile territory" for ICE, even while claiming that's "not why they're there." Former White House strategist Steve Bannon called the ICE deployment at airports a "test run" for the 2026 midterms. Jimmy Kimmel quipped that President Trump had "found a way to make the airport even worse."
Shutdown Standoff
President Trump said there would be no deal to end the partial government shutdown until Democrats support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Trump's strategy "not realistic," while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled it a "temper tantrum." More than 400 TSA employees have quit their jobs since the shutdown began, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The sources also report that PreCheck and CLEAR lanes were closed, forcing all passengers into the same security lines.