ICE Agents Deploy to 13 Airports as DHS Shutdown Enters Sixth Week

ICE agents began operating at 13 major US airports including Atlanta, O'Hare, and JFK to assist with crowd management as TSA security lines stretched to multi-hour waits. Over 400 TSA officers have quit since the partial DHS shutdown began in mid-February, with thousands more calling out because they cannot afford rent, gas, or childcare while working unpaid. The deployment raises concerns about the blurring of immigration enforcement and aviation security roles. Democrats triggered the shutdown by demanding changes to federal immigration enforcement after two US citizens were killed by officers in Minneapolis.