Federal agents filmed making airport arrests as Trump deploys ICE to ease security delays

Federal immigration officers were spotted at multiple U.S. airports on Monday after the Trump administration announced plans to deploy ICE agents to help manage long security lines during the ongoing partial government shutdown.

The shutdown, which began on February 14, has led to extended wait times at airport security checkpoints typically staffed by Transportation Security Administration agents. Because Congress has not approved new funding, hundreds of thousands of Department of Homeland Security employees, including TSA staff, have been working without pay.

At the same time, Democrats have called for reforms to federal immigration enforcement following reports of misconduct by agents, including incidents earlier this year that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.

In recent days, travellers have shared videos showing security lines stretching for hours at various airports. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, told CNN that ICE agents would begin assisting at airports experiencing the longest delays starting Monday. He noted that the specifics of the deployment were still being finalised.

The move has drawn criticism from some observers, who argue that the presence of immigration enforcement agents in airports could heighten tensions among passengers.

Reports indicate that federal agents were involved in at least one arrest at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday night. Witnesses described plainclothes officers detaining an individual, along with a child, beyond a security checkpoint. Videos circulating on platforms like TikTok and Reddit appear to show the agents declining to identify themselves during the incident.

Jason Sweeney, a spokesperson for ICE, confirmed the arrest but clarified it occurred before ICE personnel were formally deployed to support TSA operations. He said the arrest happened independently of the new initiative aimed at reducing wait times.

According to reporting from the Associated Press, ICE agents have also been present at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Additional reports from The Guardian indicate their presence at airports in Newark, New Orleans, and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. CNN has reported deployments at airports including Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Phoenix, and San Juan.

ICE has long used a range of technologies to identify and track individuals, including facial recognition tools and software capable of unlocking mobile devices. The agency has also relied on location data collected from mobile apps and games to monitor movements and assist in enforcement activities.