Homan Targets Nation’s Busiest Hubs (Miami) for ICE Surge as Security Lines Reach Breaking Point at Major Airports

WASHINGTON — In a dramatic escalation of the federal government’s response to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, White House “border czar” Tom Homan confirmed Sunday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be deployed to the nation’s most congested airports starting Monday morning. The move, intended to serve as a “force multiplier” for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), specifically targets major international hubs where security wait times have ballooned to over three hours.

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union and Fox News Sunday, Homan detailed a strategy that shifts armed ICE personnel into non-technical security roles. The deployment comes as the TSA faces a critical staffing shortage, with thousands of officers working without pay for the second time in six months, leading to a surge in sick calls and early retirements.

The Targeted “Priority” Airports

While the administration has not yet released a full national list, Homan and DHS officials identified several “priority” locations based on the severity of current delays and staffing gaps. The following airports are expected to see the first wave of ICE personnel during Monday morning shifts:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL): The world’s busiest airport has reported wait times exceeding 120 minutes, and local officials recently stepped in to provide meal vouchers to unpaid TSA staff.
• John F. Kennedy International (JFK): Security lines in New York have snaked through terminals, with travelers reporting three-hour queues over the weekend.
• George Bush Intercontinental (IAH): In Houston, wait times reached a staggering 150 minutes by early Saturday, making it a primary candidate for federal reinforcement.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX): The airport was forced to close two security checkpoints in Terminal 4 this weekend due to TSA absenteeism, prompting an immediate request for support.
• Miami International (MIA) & LaGuardia (LGA): Both hubs have seen lines reach nearly an hour, with expectations that these will grow as spring break travel peaks.

“We’re going to be at airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along,” Homan told CNN. “The priority is the large airports where there’s a long wait, like three hours. We are going to prioritize the busiest hubs first.”

Homan Outlines the “Force Multiplier” Strategy

The core of Homan’s plan involves using ICE agents to assume the “static” and “administrative” duties of TSA officers, allowing the remaining certified screeners to focus exclusively on technical security tasks.

“There are certain parts of security that TSA is doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs to help move those lines,” Homan explained. He suggested that ICE agents would be stationed at terminal exit lanes, check identification at the front of screening queues, and conduct “roving patrols” to maintain order in crowded terminals.

However, Homan acknowledged the deployment’s limitations, addressing concerns about the lack of specialized aviation training among ICE personnel. “I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in that,” Homan stated. “We’re not going to compromise safety. We’re going to be a force multiplier.”

The Political and Security Fallout

The deployment has sparked immediate backlash from labor unions and Democratic lawmakers. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents over 50,000 TSA workers, condemned the plan as a “dangerous stunt.” Kelley argued that TSA officers undergo months of rigorous training to detect explosives and weapons—training that ICE agents do not possess.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) voiced even sharper criticism, suggesting that the presence of armed immigration enforcement officers in crowded airports could lead to tragedy. “The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or, in some instances, kill them,” Jeffries said on CNN, referencing recent fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minnesota.

In response to these concerns, Homan remained steadfast, asserting that ICE agents are “highly trained law enforcement officers” capable of handling public safety. He also confirmed a controversial detail: ICE agents will maintain their enforcement authority while on-site. “They’re still ICE agents,” Homan said, implying that agents will continue to enforce immigration laws if they encounter undocumented individuals during their airport duties.

A Government in Gridlock

The deployment is a direct symptom of the legislative deadlock in Washington. The DHS shutdown began following the deaths of two U.S. citizens during an immigration sweep in Minnesota, which led Democrats to demand new restrictions on ICE operations, including a ban on agents wearing masks and a requirement for judicial warrants. Republicans have countered with the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which provides billions in funding for ICE but leaves the TSA and other DHS agencies vulnerable.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, appearing on ABC’s This Week, warned that the situation will only deteriorate if a deal is not reached by the end of the week, when TSA workers are scheduled to miss another paycheck. “I think you’re going to see more TSA agents—as we come to Thursday, Friday, Saturday of next week—they’re going to quit or they’re not going to show up,” Duffy said.

Advice for Travelers

Travel advocacy groups and airport authorities are urging passengers to prepare for a chaotic week. Travelers are advised to:

• Arrive four hours early: Even with ICE support, the transition of roles is expected to cause initial operational friction.
• Check terminal status: Hubs like Phoenix may continue to see checkpoint closures despite the surge.
• Prepare for armed presence: Passengers should expect to see armed federal agents in areas where they are normally accustomed to seeing unarmed TSA screeners.

As Homan and his team finalize the deployment orders this evening, the nation’s aviation system faces an unprecedented experiment. Whether the “force multiplier” can truly fix the lines—or if it will merely add a layer of tension to an already frayed travel landscape—will be seen as the first shifts begin Monday morning.

Sources Used and Links

• PBS News: Federal immigration agents sent to U.S. airports to support security during budget impasse
• FOX 10 Phoenix: ICE agents to deploy to major airports to cover TSA staffing shortages
• TIME: Trump Says ICE Agents Will Deploy to Airports Amid Funding Impasse
• WUFT (NPR): ICE officers set to deploy to airports as delays mount, border czar Homan confirms
• King 5 News (TEGNA): ICE to act as ‘force multiplier’ for TSA at airports, border czar says
• KSL News: Trump administration touts plan for ICE at airports amid criticism from union, Democrats
• VisaHQ: White House confirms ICE agents will start work at airports Monday, drawing industry backlash