Travelers passing through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are encountering a new sight at security checkpoints: uniformed ICE agents.
President Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to assist with airport security at multiple locations nationwide, citing staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown. Uniformed ICE agents were spotted at Sky Harbor Monday morning, with airport officials confirming they had been notified in advance of the deployment.
Sky Harbor said in a statement posted to its website that it expects all federal officers on site to operate within the law and in keeping with the customer service standards the airport is known for. As a public-use airport, Sky Harbor falls under federal jurisdiction and has limited authority to refuse the presence of federal agents.
The root of the problem is a prolonged funding standoff in Washington. The Department of Homeland Security — which oversees TSA — has been operating under a partial shutdown as Democrats refuse to approve full DHS funding without ICE policy reforms, while Republicans have blocked proposals that would fund TSA and other DHS functions while excluding ICE. TSA workers are classified as essential employees and are required to report to work even without pay, but the financial strain has driven a wave of resignations and increased absences across the agency.
At Sky Harbor, the impact is visible. Two of Terminal 4’s four security checkpoints remained closed as of Monday morning, leaving passengers to funnel through the remaining lanes during what is historically the airport’s busiest month of the year. The single checkpoint at Terminal 3 remained operational. Airport officials are advising travelers to arrive at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours ahead of international flights.
Not everyone is comfortable with the arrangement. U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego called the deployment a disaster in the making, warning that the presence of ICE at airport checkpoints would deter tourists and ultimately hurt Arizona’s small businesses and workers.
Sky Harbor has also been running a donation drive to support federal employees who have gone without pay during the shutdown, collecting food, gift cards and household essentials at a drop-off station in Terminal 4.
