Tom Homan Says ICE Agents Will Patrol Airports Starting Monday

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will begin deploying to U.S. airports on Monday to assist the Transportation Security Administration, according to Tom Homan, identified in multiple reports as President Donald Trump’s “border czar.” The move comes as airports face mounting delays and extended security lines.

Homan confirmed the plan in comments reported by Politico, NPR and CNBC. Those outlets said ICE personnel will be sent to airports starting Monday as TSA works to manage screening operations amid staffing strains.

The reported mission is focused on helping TSA at airport checkpoints. The New York Times described the deployment as ICE helping TSA at airports amid a partial shutdown, while other reports, including NPR and CNBC, tied the plan to delays that have stretched security lines in some places.

The plan places federal immigration enforcement officers into a highly visible role at passenger airports, a setting where the public typically encounters TSA screeners rather than ICE. It also adds another Department of Homeland Security component to the effort to keep passengers moving through checkpoints as the travel system confronts operational stress.

Several outlets characterized the deployment as a response to worsening airport conditions. NPR reported that delays are mounting, and Yahoo cited security lines topping three hours in some cases. The Guardian similarly reported that ICE agents would be deployed to ease long lines. CBS News reported that Trump said ICE agents will assist TSA as delays worsen amid a DHS shutdown.

The development matters because airport screening is a major chokepoint for domestic travel, and long waits can ripple into missed flights, airline schedule disruptions, and congestion in terminals. Any change to staffing at checkpoints also raises practical questions for travelers about who they may see in security areas and what roles those personnel will play.

It also underscores the level of federal attention on airport operations. TSA is the primary agency responsible for passenger and baggage screening, and the decision to bring in ICE officers highlights the pressure on staffing and throughput described in the recent coverage.

What happens next is the start of the deployment on Monday. Travelers should expect to see ICE personnel at some airports as they assist TSA, according to the reports. Additional details, including how many officers will be deployed, which airports will receive them, and the exact duties they will perform, were not specified in the provided context.

For now, the confirmed point is the timing: Homan says ICE will be at airports beginning Monday, as the administration moves to bolster TSA operations during a period of significant screening delays.