Federal Immigration Agents to Assist TSA at Hartsfield-Jackson Amid Record-Long Security Lines

ATLANTA, Ga. — Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are facing hours-long waits at security checkpoints as a partial federal government shutdown stretches into its second month. On Sunday, lines were reported as long as five hours, with many passengers expressing frustration over the delays.

In response, Mayor Andre Dickens announced that federal immigration agents from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations will be deployed to the airport starting Monday. According to the mayor’s office, these agents will assist TSA with line management and crowd control within domestic terminals. Federal officials emphasized that the personnel will not conduct immigration enforcement activities and will report directly to TSA for the duration of their assignment.

The staffing shortages stem from the ongoing federal budget impasse, which has left hundreds of thousands of Department of Homeland Security employees unpaid, including TSA officers. Currently, around 30–40% of TSA agents at the Atlanta airport have called out or resigned, contributing to the extreme wait times.

The city and airport have implemented local support measures to help TSA officers working without pay, while Mayor Dickens urged Congress to restore funding and fully staff the agency. Passengers are advised to allow at least three hours for domestic flights and four or more hours for international flights, with extra time for checked baggage.

Frustrated travelers voiced their dissatisfaction, citing the disruption to business and personal travel. “I’m just fed up and disgusted that the government can’t get it right,” said one passenger. “They really need to get their heads in the game and start paying the people who keep our businesses and country running.”

The deployment of immigration agents to assist TSA is part of a nationwide effort ordered by President Donald Trump to manage security operations at major airports during the ongoing shutdown.