ICE deployed to some U.S. airports - What you need to know

Written By Paige Waite

Why is this happening?

Due to the ongoing partial government shutdown and a critical TSA staffing shortage, the Trump administration has begun deploying ICE agents to major airports across the country.

As of March 24, 2026, nearly 12% of TSA officers have not reported for duty because they are working without pay, leading to massive security delays.

 

Where is ICE stationed?

So far agents have not been stationed in Nebraska. However according to CNN, they have been spotted at 14 major hubs, including:

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL)

  • New York (JFK & LaGuardia)

  • Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

  • Newark Liberty (EWR)

  • Houston (IAH & HOU)

  • Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX)

  • Cleveland Hopkins (CLE)

  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans (MSY)

  • Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

  • Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)

  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

 

What exactly are they doing?

Support Roles: Agents are assisting with general operations to free up TSA staff.

No Screening: Officials state that ICE agents are not trained to operate X-ray machines or conduct specialized passenger screenings.

Funding Status: Unlike TSA workers, ICE agents are being fully paid.

 

What does this mean for immigrant travelers?

  • Be sure to carry your ID and proof of status.

  • ICE agents may verify identification at various locations, including before and after TSA security checkpoints.

  • If you are driving someone to or from the airport, it is strongly recommended that you carry proof of legal status. If you do not have legal status, we recommend having someone else take them or use a rideshare app.

  • Ensure you have the phone numbers of your emergency contacts and legal counsel memorized.

  • Individuals who are undocumented, have a pending legal case, or have a prior order of removal should proceed with extreme caution when traveling through these hubs.

  • For increased privacy, disable biometric passcodes (FaceID or TouchID) on your mobile devices and use a typed passcode instead.

  • Get paper boarding passes instead of the virtual in-app ones.

  • If you have any questions or concerns you would like to address before traveling, please call us at 402-471-1777.

Paige Waite
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