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ATLANTA — Federal agents have stepped in to assist with managing the overflow of travelers at the world’s busiest airport, as lengthy security lines continue to cause frustration among passengers.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been dispatched to over a dozen airports across the nation, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Their presence aims to alleviate the mounting pressures at security checkpoints, a situation exacerbated by a shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff.
This staffing shortfall, now in its sixth week, is a direct result of the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left the Department of Homeland Security without adequate funding.
On Monday morning, security lines at Atlanta’s airport stretched beyond the terminal doors, with some travelers missing their flights due to the extensive delays.
“Today has been quite stressful,” shared Rebecca deSchweinitz, a teacher who was traveling with a group of students. “We’ve been touring civil rights landmarks in Georgia and Alabama and are now trying to return home to Utah.”
Other travelers said they arrived hours earlier than usual to avoid missing their flights.
“Our flight’s at 8 o’clock, and they’re saying three to five hour wait times,” said Joel Hengstler, who was headed to Las Vegas. “So we got here about six hours early.”
By midday, conditions appeared to improve slightly, with average wait times dropping to about an hour.
Some travelers reported much shorter waits, especially those with priority screening.
“My flight tonight is at 7:35, and I got here around 2:30,” said Mallika Garrett. “It only took me about 10 minutes.”
Airport officials have since removed real-time security wait times from their website. Instead, they are urging passengers to arrive at least four hours before their scheduled departure.
Authorities emphasize that ICE agents are not conducting security screenings but are instead helping manage lines and maintain order inside terminals.
Airports in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston and New Orleans are also seeing ICE assistance as staffing shortages continue to impact travel nationwide.