Travelers hustling through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday morning were met with more than just long lines. Uniformed ICE officers were stationed near security checkpoints as wait times swung unpredictably, adding a fresh layer of unease to already tense spring-break departures out of PHX.
According to KTAR, ICE agents in uniform were posted around Terminal 4 while two of the terminal's four security checkpoints remained closed. Sky Harbor officials told the outlet the officers were part of federal support for screening operations and urged travelers to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international trips. The airport has also opened a donation center to help federal employees who have gone without pay during the partial Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.
Trump Threat, Federal Deployments Hit Airports
President Donald Trump had said he would direct ICE officers to help at airports unless Congress funded the Department of Homeland Security, and national coverage has since tracked immigration agents turning up at several major hubs while TSA staff continue to work without pay. As reported by The Associated Press, ICE's presence at TSA checkpoints was already being noticed at airports including Atlanta and New Orleans. DHS officials described the deployments as a "force multiplier" while also acknowledging that ICE officers have limited training in passenger screening.
Unions, Security Pros Say Move Could Backfire
Unions representing TSA agents and flight attendants are not sold on the strategy. They warned that bringing ICE into passenger-screening zones could distract TSA screeners, escalate confrontations and make crowded lines more chaotic instead of safer. Axios reported union statements and security experts stressing that ICE officers are not trained like TSA screeners. "Putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one," an AFGE leader said.
What Phoenix Travelers Need To Know Right Now
Sky Harbor officials told KTAR that federal officers on site will operate in accordance with the law and in line with PHX customer service standards. Passengers are encouraged to check flight status and the airport's wait-time tools before leaving home and to pad their schedules with extra time. The airport's donation center is accepting items and gift cards for federal workers who remain on the job without pay.
