Airport chaos: ICE agents deployed to ease TSA lines amid government shutdown
In a bid to tackle significant security bottlenecks and staffing deficiencies affecting spring break travel, President Donald Trump has directed ICE agents to U.S. airports. These issues have arisen as TSA staff have been working without pay for over 37 days due to the partial government shutdown. Key figures in the administration, including Tom Homan and Sean Duffy, have emphasized that ICE personnel will support by undertaking non-specialized roles to help minimize passenger delays and uphold security standards.
Earlier this month, federal immigration authorities arrested a Southwest Airlines flight attendant at work due to visa-related issues, according to officials.
The individual, identified as Lorenzo Thompson from Jamaica, was apprehended on July 14 in Nashville, Tennessee, as reported by local sources.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Thompson had entered the U.S. on April 17, 2021, using a visa that ultimately expired on October 16, 2021, as stated to Fox News.
Interior view of a passenger airplane, the Boeing 737-MAX 8, operated by Southwest Airlines. (iStock)
“Against our nation’s laws, he overstayed his visa and failed to depart. He will remain in ICE custody pending his immigration proceedings,” an ICE spokesperson said.
The agency noted that illegal immigrants are offered $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport from the U.S.
“We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream,” the agency said. “If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”
A Southwest Airlines 737 comes in for landing at Portland International Airport. A Southwest flight attendant was arrested last week for allegedly overstaying his visa. (iStock)
TWU Local 556, the union that represents Southwest Airlines flight attendants, also confirmed the arrest.
“Every Member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we are committed to ensuring this Member and their family know they are not alone during this difficult time,” the union wrote on Facebook.
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) said Thompson was working toward obtaining U.S. citizenship.
“He had a valid work visa and was a dedicated flight attendant, touching countless lives with his kindness,” the group wrote on social media.
An online crowdfunding page launched to cover Thompson’s legal bills said he left Jamaica “seeking safety from life-threatening abuse.”
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are present as passengers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint after hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were ordered to deploy to airports to help fill TSA staffing gaps, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, March 23, 2026. (REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer)
“Since arriving, he has worked tirelessly to build a stable life, following every legal step toward citizenship,” the page states. “He has no criminal record. No parking tickets. He holds a valid work visa, has a pending asylum case, and is a dedicated flight attendant for a beloved airline.”
The page described him as “honest, caring, and loyal, always ready to lend a hand without expecting anything back.”
News Media has reached out to the airline for comment.