Federal authorities have deployed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as security lines remain in place, but officials have not yet clarified how those agents will assist the Transportation Security Administration’s strained operations.
Travelers at the world’s busiest airports say they’ve noticed an increased federal presence but question whether it will have an impact.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place so busy,” one traveler told us Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashley Lincoln.
The deployment comes as the TSA faces ongoing staffing shortages, with more than 40% of its employees in Atlanta reportedly calling out in recent weeks.
ICE officials aim to help ease the congestion, but as of Monday afternoon, agency leaders had not released a detailed plan outlining their responsibilities. ICE and TSA both declined to make officials available for interviews.
“I noticed the line was really long, and supposedly the ICE officers were there to help, but they didn’t do anything,” another traveler said.
While both agencies play a role in federal security, their training is very different.
TSA officers typically complete a two- to three-month training process that includes approximately 80 hours of classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and specialized screening techniques such as X-ray and explosives detection.
ICE agents complete a minimum eight-week program that focuses on immigration law and tactical training. Specialized agents may receive up to 27 weeks of additional instruction on federal investigations and undercover operations.
Some TSA employees have expressed concerns about the speed with which ICE agents have been integrated into airport security operations.
“Just throwing them into a checkpoint like that, I think it’s a recipe for disaster,” said a TSA employee.
Experts say ICE agents are more likely to support non-screening roles.
Emory University professor Pamnath Chellappa said ICE agents can assist with tasks such as checking identities or managing passenger flow.
“I think the first place that ICE can support is simple identity checks,” Cerappa said.
Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, said in a recent interview with CNN that ICE agents could help free up TSA officers for more specialized duties.
“We can play a role in freeing TSA officers from non-essential duties, such as guarding exits, so they can get back to the scanners and move people around more quickly,” Homan said.
TSA employees point out that even routine screening requires a lot of training and experience.
“It takes months of training and you still encounter things you don’t encounter every day,” one agent said.
Local officials are also stepping in to manage the crowds. The city of Atlanta has deployed additional personnel and police to assist with crowd control at the airport.
Despite the increased support, travelers say long queues and delays are continuing, with no clear timeline on when the situation will improve.
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