ICE officers will begin assisting TSA as shutdown frustrates travelers and screeners — No ICE agents yet at Sea-Tac airport

President Donald Trump’s decision to order federal immigration agents to U.S. airports to help with security during a budget impasse is drawing concerns that their presence may escalate tensions among air travelers frustrated over hourslong waits and screeners angry about missed paychecks.

Hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers, including from the TSA, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew DHS funding last month.

Travelers go through TSA airport security at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis said “hundreds” of ICE officers would be deployed, but she would not disclose the airports where they would go, citing security reasons.

“It’s a work in progress,” Homan said. The priority, he said, was “the large airports where there’s a long wait, like three hours.”

Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho said on the social media platform Reddit, “As of Sunday afternoon (3/22/2026), operations and security screening times at SEA remain normal, and we do not expect ICE agents to perform TSA roles. We have not received any such communication from DHS.”

Cho, who is also one of the owners of the Northwest Asian Weekly, continued, “Compared to other major airports (Atlanta, Houston, etc), SEA has seen a lower absentee rate to date (around 10%). Other airports are as high as 40%.” 

The Port of Seattle website echoes that message, stating that security wait times at SEA remain normal. The site also thanked TSA workers who continue to provide service without pay and advised travelers to arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures.

Cho said ICE agents, if deployed, will be conducting “non-regulatory roles.”

If you would like to donate to the food pantry, the Port is collecting non-perishable foods, household items, and meals, including diapers. You can drop them off between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the SEA Conference Center, located right above checkpoint 2 in the airport.