ICE Agents at Some Airports Begin Checking IDs in Security Lines

New York Times
by Christina Morales, Christine Chung, Hamed Aleaziz, Sean Keenan and Rowan Moore Gerety
March 26, 2026
3 min read

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ICE agents have begun checking IDs in security lines at some airports.

How This Affects You

Travelers may encounter ICE agents while passing through airport security, though the impact on wait times remains unclear and some travelers expressed concerns.

AI Summary

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have begun assisting with ID checks in security lines at some airports, marking an expansion of ICE's presence at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. The move aims to streamline passenger screening, though officials have not confirmed whether the additional agents will meaningfully reduce wait times. Some travelers have expressed concerns about the change, reflecting broader debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics and their reach into routine airport operations. The deployment represents a shift in how immigration enforcement intersects with civilian air travel, as ICE has traditionally focused on immigration-specific operations rather than general airport security screening. The effectiveness of the initiative remains to be determined as the program operates at select locations.

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