In the United States, a crisis affecting aviation security culminated in the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 22, 2026. The decision, announced by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, came amidst a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA had been struggling with staffing shortages and delays, leading to wait times exceeding three hours at major airports across the country due to a lack of funding and the resignation of over 300 TSA agents. The deployment of ICE is intended mainly to assist TSA agents rather than enforce immigration policies, alleviating the burden on those who manage security lines. President Donald Trump cited the deployment as a way to improve air travel safety and efficiency after significant delays arose in TSA operations. He asserted that ICE agents would help expedite processing at airports while emphasizing that operations would continue unless funding for the DHS is agreed upon. Critics, however, raised concerns about the implications of deploying ICE agents, who might not be trained for security tasks typically handled by TSA personnel. The situation has sparked debate about the intersection of immigration enforcement and aviation security, as well as the appropriation of government resources during a funding stalemate. With TSA agents reportedly going unpaid, as they are deemed essential and required to work during the shutdown, many have called for a resolution to the crisis. Consequently, the deployment of ICE agents reflects both a response to immediate operational challenges and a broader political struggle over DHS funding and immigration policy.