Travelers across South Florida prepared for a stressful day at the airport as long security lines and uncertainty continued during the partial federal shutdown. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, some passengers arrived three to four hours early, hoping to avoid delays.
President Donald Trump said immigration officers would be sent to some airports to assist the Transportation Security Administration unless Democrats agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The proposal would allow ICE agents to help with tasks such as crowd control, guarding exit lanes, or checking IDs before passengers reach screening areas.
Even so, officials at both Fort Lauderdale and Miami International Airport said they had not been told their airports were on the list for ICE deployment.
The shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of Homeland Security workers without pay, including TSA employees, Secret Service personnel, and Coast Guard members. That has added pressure at airports already dealing with staffing shortages and frustrated travelers.
Critics say bringing in immigration officers could worsen tensions rather than ease them. Some lawmakers, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, argued the better solution is to end the budget standoff and pay TSA employees. The union representing TSA workers also criticized the plan, saying ICE agents are not trained in aviation security.
Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said the goal is to use ICE as a “force multiplier” at the busiest airports where waits are reaching several hours. Atlanta officials confirmed federal immigration personnel would begin assisting there with line management and crowd control, though not with enforcement actions.
As talks in Washington remain stalled, travelers at airports in Atlanta, New York, and elsewhere faced long lines, missed flights, and confusion over how early they need to arrive. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said one of the biggest problems is that passengers no longer know whether they need to show up 90 minutes early or four hours before departure.
For now, South Florida airports remain on alert, even if ICE officers are not yet expected locally.
