White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed on Sunday that ICE agents will be sent to U.S. airports starting Monday. The move, announced by President Trump on Saturday, is framed as a response to three‑hour security lines that have plagued travelers during the peak spring travel season.

Homan told CNN that the deployment aims to shore up TSA staff whose numbers have thinned after thousands of agents went unpaid during a partial government shutdown. He said ICE officers already stationed at airports would shift to cover exits and non‑screening duties, freeing TSA screeners to focus on passenger checks.

Officials plan to target airports where security waits approach three hours, with John F. Kennedy International Airport cited as a primary example. The exact number of agents and timing remain under discussion, Homan added. Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries condemned the plan, warning that untrained ICE presence could endanger travelers.

Airlines anticipate short‑term disruptions as additional personnel navigate checkpoint corridors, potentially inflating operational costs during a lucrative travel window. The ad‑hoc funding request tied to the deployment also signals heightened pressure on the Department of Homeland Security budget, a factor investors will monitor as Congress debates the broader funding package.