ICE officers now checking IDs in airport security lines

The Hill
by Max Rego
March 26, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

ICE officers are now checking travelers' IDs at airport security checkpoints after TSA training, expanding immigration enforcement at airports.

How This Affects You

Travelers passing through airport security lines may face additional immigration status checks, potentially causing delays or complications depending on documentation status.

AI Summary

ICE officers have begun checking travelers' identification documents at airport security checkpoints after receiving TSA training, according to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill's testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. The officers have been deployed to select airports across the country as part of what appears to be an expanded immigration enforcement presence in transportation hubs. This marks a shift in airport security procedures, where ID verification has traditionally been handled by TSA screeners at the checkpoint. The deployment reflects the Trump administration's broader focus on immigration enforcement and border security operations. The exact scope of the program—which airports are involved and how many officers have been deployed—was not fully detailed in McNeill's initial remarks to Congress.

What's Being Done

ICE officers have been deployed to select airports nationwide following TSA training. The exact scope—which airports and how many officers—was not fully detailed in Congressional testimony.

Source Coverage Map

22 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

Overlooked Story
51% coverage
Did Not Cover (21)
ICIJ97AP Top News96Bellingcat95Reuters World95Center for Public Integrity93+16 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners - AP News
Government Transparency

Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxPN21CRTVyRmVWajhQVTZQUE5Sb2FGZzZCVHg5cUJZZ09TYkNzOHhLYnMxWTB0R2F6NTBScGEyS1ltam4zWjVDcXAwV1g3TzVWVmpMOVBFM08xZGpRTlNzRlZpZFI5VlFiRC1mN3VsMmowaFB1anFFSmtuNlFfSkpERTVubWl1V1plZ0JIRC1KQmFmNnAzQUd5clpVQWxFV3RsUDRfMExJR2ctZw?oc=5" target="_blank">Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 22
Bill to fund Homeland Security fails again as concern grows about airport lines - AP News
Government Transparency

Bill to fund Homeland Security fails again as concern grows about airport lines - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOTmJFdURWaEh1Z1ZTdjJXM0pvNklybm5JS3pJNHBBdTdzUE9UQmJTSDR4U1h0czl2ZXlUSTVuVzlkWjZEV1o1T1V1TFF4Wkx5NHNwbVJiWWpCNUdrV3BPV2RKUDRpRUNzODFsVnBaVy1TTUk2cTBJQlhWY1dIeFhYS04wanpWWW5tTVhvREplY05qT21mUmtEand0N0tKSG8xclItMQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Bill to fund Homeland Security fails again as concern grows about airport lines</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 20
Travelers face Friday rush and unpredictable airport wait times as TSA officers go unpaid - CNN
Government Transparency

Travelers face Friday rush and unpredictable airport wait times as TSA officers go unpaid - CNN

CNNMar 20
US Republicans weigh deal to reopen most of DHS but not ICE deportations
Politics

US Republicans weigh deal to reopen most of DHS but not ICE deportations

<p>The homeland security shutdown has snarled airport lines and halted pay for some, even as lawmakers negotiate a deal</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/mar/24/us-politics-latest-news-donald-trump-ice-airport-midterms-donald-trump-marco-rubio">US politics live – latest updates</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email</a></p></li></ul><p>Republican senators are considering a bipartisan deal to restore funding to most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would initially exclude money for arrests and deportations of undocumented <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration">immigrants</a>, according to media reports.</p><p>Und...

The Guardian US NewsMar 24
TSA official: Airport security problem ‘going to get worse before it gets better’
Government Transparency

TSA official: Airport security problem ‘going to get worse before it gets better’

A senior Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official warned Thursday that the growing backlog at airport security checkpoints nationwide is likely “going to get worse before it gets better” as staffing becomes more strained as a result of the lingering Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told NewsNation host Blake…

The HillMar 19
Alaska Airlines flight, FedEx cargo plane nearly collide at Newark airport
National Security

Alaska Airlines flight, FedEx cargo plane nearly collide at Newark airport

An Alaska Airlines 737 and a FedEx 777 cargo plane nearly collided as they attempted to land on intersecting runways at Newark Liberty International Airport.

ABC NewsMar 19
Read Next
"Undeniable harm": When ICE comes to town, students stay home
Civil Rights

"Undeniable harm": When ICE comes to town, students stay home

<p>Several school systems in areas targeted most aggressively by <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump</a>'s immigration crackdowns have seen dramatic increases in student absences, Axios has found.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Enrollment data in Charlotte, Chicago, Minneapolis, California, Florida and Texas show thousands of students were suddenly absent when ICE came to town — the latest signs of how the raids have rippled through communities.</p><hr><ul><li>The figures also indicate Trump's push to intimidate unauthorized immigrants into leaving communities on their own often has led entire families to depart, even those including youngsters in the U.S. legally.</li><li>"ICE tactics are causing undeniable harm to students — harm that will likely lead to years of trauma in school communities," more than 70 House Democrats wrote in a recent <a href="https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/imo/media/doc/scott_bonamici_...

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources