Trump Deploys ICE to Airports Amid TSA Absenteeism, Shutdown Crisis

• President Trump ordered ICE deployment to major US airports to assist understaffed TSA amid a partial government shutdown.
• The move comes as TSA absenteeism rises due to unpaid federal workers, causing significant passenger delays and long queues.
• ICE agents will primarily assist with crowd control, ID checks, and queue management, not security screening in secure areas.
• Unions and lawmakers criticize the deployment, warning of heightened tensions and compromised security standards.
• The funding impasse stems from disagreements over budget allocations and immigration policy, leaving many federal workers without pay.