ICE agents deployed to Southwest Florida International Airport amid TSA staff shortages
Updated: 11:16 AM EDT Mar 23, 2026
Travelers at Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County will see Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) throughout the terminal on Monday.RSW is one of 13 airports in the United States where ICE agents are assisting with Transportation Security Administration duties, CNN confirmed.President Donald Trump announced the move on Sunday morning, stating ICE would be supporting TSA agents, who are currently working without pay due to the partial government shutdown.TSA has been dealing with staffing shortages, as 40% of agents have not been showing up for work due to unpaid wages.ICE will be assigned jobs that would free up TSA agents to focus on security screenings, such as monitoring airport entrances and exits.This comes after Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to pass a measure to fund separate Homeland Security agencies, such as the TSA, while excluding immigration enforcement agencies. Republicans said funding should be all or nothing.Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security released a statement regarding ICE presence at airports:“Because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the country—especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families. This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work because they are not able to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent. While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.”The full list of airports that will see an ICE presence on Monday, per CNN, includes:Chicago-O’Hare International AirportCleveland Hopkins International AirportHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportHouston’s William P. Hobby AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)LaGuardia Airport (New York)Louis Armstrong New Orleans International AirportLuis Muñoz Marin International Airport (San Juan, Puerto Rico)Newark Liberty International AirportPhiladelphia International AirportPhoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPittsburgh International AirportSouthwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Florida)DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
LEE COUNTY, Fla. —
Travelers at Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County will see Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) throughout the terminal on Monday.
RSW is one of 13 airports in the United States where ICE agents are assisting with Transportation Security Administration duties, CNN confirmed.
President Donald Trump announced the move on Sunday morning, stating ICE would be supporting TSA agents, who are currently working without pay due to the partial government shutdown.
TSA has been dealing with staffing shortages, as 40% of agents have not been showing up for work due to unpaid wages.
ICE will be assigned jobs that would free up TSA agents to focus on security screenings, such as monitoring airport entrances and exits.
This comes after Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to pass a measure to fund separate Homeland Security agencies, such as the TSA, while excluding immigration enforcement agencies. Republicans said funding should be all or nothing.
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security released a statement regarding ICE presence at airports:
“Because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the country—especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families. This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work because they are not able to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent. While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.”
The full list of airports that will see an ICE presence on Monday, per CNN, includes:
Chicago-O’Hare International AirportCleveland Hopkins International AirportHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportHouston’s William P. Hobby AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)LaGuardia Airport (New York)Louis Armstrong New Orleans International AirportLuis Muñoz Marin International Airport (San Juan, Puerto Rico)Newark Liberty International AirportPhiladelphia International AirportPhoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPittsburgh International AirportSouthwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Florida)
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.