Unmasked ICE agents hounded after being deployed to airports in attempt to clear TSA crisis
Unmasked ICE officers have been sent to several major airports across the United States to support TSA agents, who have been working without pay and under increasing strain due to a partial government shutdown. The deployment has drawn both support and public confrontation from travelers.
The operation began Monday at approximately 13 airports, where TSA staff have not received a paycheck since Department of Homeland Security funding was disrupted in February. The absence of pay has led to widespread staff shortages, with many agents calling in sick and others resigning.
At Newark Liberty International Airport, videos captured a woman shouting at ICE officers, saying, “Go back to your master, Donald Trump, go back to your master!” She also referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other travelers were recorded chanting, “ICE out now! ICE out now!”
The situation has left TSA agents struggling to manage large volumes of passengers, as many missed their first full paycheck in March. President Trump announced on Sunday that ICE officers would assist TSA to keep airport security operations running smoothly.
Footage from the airports showed a mix of reactions. Some travelers confronted officers aggressively, recording them with cameras or shouting at them. Others expressed gratitude, shaking hands and thanking officers for their assistance.
The airports receiving ICE support include Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Cleveland, Houston Hobby, Fort Myers, New Orleans, New York JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and San Juan in Puerto Rico. TSA absentee rates over the weekend reached their highest levels since the partial shutdown began, according to DHS.
In New York City, Houston, and Atlanta, over a third of TSA personnel were absent or called in sick. The partial shutdown, which began when DHS funding lapsed on February 13, has left tens of thousands of federal workers without pay.
The lack of compensation has prompted resignations among TSA agents, with at least 400 leaving their posts in the last month. Many are recalling the struggles of last year’s extended government shutdown, which also left federal workers unpaid for weeks.
The ongoing funding stalemate stems from disagreements in Congress. Some Democrats and Republicans are withholding approval of DHS’s annual budget over President Trump’s immigration policies, demanding reforms to ICE and border security operations before releasing new funding.
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