ICE deploys agents to 13 US airports, including Florida, amid TSA staffing shortages

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ARE INVESTIGATING. MEANWHILE, THE FAA HAS ISSUED A GROUND STOP AT LAGUARDIA UNTIL AT LEAST 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON. THIS HERE IS A LOOK AT THE MCO FLIGHT BOARD THIS MORNING. YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE 18 DELAYED FLIGHTS, 15 CANCELLATIONS. AS ALWAYS, A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK IN WITH YOUR AIRLINE CARRIER BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE AIRPORT. ALSO, RIGHT NOW WE ARE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHERE ICE AGENTS COULD BE STATIONED AS EARLY AS TODAY TO ASSIST WITH THE LONG SECURITY LINES THERE. THINGS HAVE CALMED DOWN IN THE MORNING HOURS THERE AT THE AIRPORT, BUT ALL ACROSS THE NATION, WE KNOW THAT AIRPORTS ARE FACING A SHORTAGE OF TSA AGENTS AS A RESULT OF THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, MORE THAN 400 HAVE QUIT SINCE THE SHUTDOWN BEGAN IN FEBRUARY, LEADING TO LONG LINES LIKE THESE AT MAJOR AIRPORTS INCLUDING ATLANTA, NEW YORK CITY AND RIGHT HERE AT HOME IN ORLANDO. AN ADDITIONAL 10% OF TSA AGENTS HAVE BEEN CALLING OUT SICK AS THEY PREPARE TO MISS THEIR SECOND FULL PAYCHECK. THIS FRIDAY, IT IS DAY 38 OF THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHICH IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SENATE’S FAILURE TO PASS A BUDGET TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH OVERSEES ICE AND TSA DEMOCRATS, INSISTING ON NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR ICE AGENTS. IF A BUDGET IS GOING TO BE PASSED, LIKE BLOCKING THEM FROM WEARING MASKS OR FORCING THEM TO WEAR IDS, REPUBLICANS ARGUE THAT DEMOCRATS WANT TO USE THE SHUTDOWN AND THE CHAOS THAT’S CREATING AS LEVERAGE. EITHER WAY, YOU’LL FACE SOME LONGER LINES AT TSA RIGHT NOW AT MCO WAIT TIMES AT TERMINALS A AND B ARE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MINUTES. THEY SHOULD GET PAID FOR THE WORK THEY DO, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT NEED TO TURN AND THEY’RE GOING TO GET PAID EVENTUALLY. AND I APPRECIATE THE ONES THAT ARE OUT HERE TODAY WITH THE EXPECTATION THEY’RE GOING TO GET PAID IN THE FUTURE. A DHS SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THAT HUNDREDS OF ICE AGENTS WILL BE DEPLOYED AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT DID NOT SPECIFY WHERE BECAUSE OF SECURITY REASONS. U.S. BORDERS ARE. TOM HOMAN IS LEADING THE CHARGE. HE SAYS THAT ICE WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE ACTUAL SCREENING PORTION OF THE TSA PROCESS. INSTEAD, THEY’LL BE MANNING EXITS SO MORE TSA OFFICERS CAN BE FREED UP FOR SCREENINGS.

ICE deploys agents to 13 US airports, including Florida, amid TSA staffing shortages

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Updated: 10:46 AM EDT Mar 23, 2026

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are being deployed to airports nationwide to assist the Transportation Security Administration in managing long lines caused by the partial government shutdown. More than 400 TSA agents across the country have quit since the shutdown started in February. Officials said ICE agents will not assist with the actual screening portion of the TSA process. Instead, they will man exits so more TSA officers can do screenings.Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers was among the airports included on ICE’s deployment list, according to CNN.List of airportsHere’s the list of airports that will see ICE agents: Chicago-O’Hare International AirportCleveland Hopkins International AirportHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportHouston’s William P. Hobby AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport in New YorkLaGuardia Airport in New YorkLouis Armstrong New Orleans International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto RicoNewark Liberty International AirportPhiladelphia International AirportPhoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPittsburgh International AirportSouthwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, FloridaAs of March 23, the Orlando International Airport said it has not been notified whether ICE agents will be at their airport. Check the latest wait times at MCO.

Florida, USA —

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are being deployed to airports nationwide to assist the Transportation Security Administration in managing long lines caused by the partial government shutdown.

More than 400 TSA agents across the country have quit since the shutdown started in February.

Officials said ICE agents will not assist with the actual screening portion of the TSA process. Instead, they will man exits so more TSA officers can do screenings.

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers was among the airports included on ICE’s deployment list, according to CNN.

List of airports

Here’s the list of airports that will see ICE agents:

Chicago-O’Hare International AirportCleveland Hopkins International AirportHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportHouston’s William P. Hobby AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport in New YorkLaGuardia Airport in New YorkLouis Armstrong New Orleans International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto RicoNewark Liberty International AirportPhiladelphia International AirportPhoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPittsburgh International AirportSouthwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida

As of March 23, the Orlando International Airport said it has not been notified whether ICE agents will be at their airport.

Check the latest wait times at MCO.