Travelers passing through Atlanta’s busiest airport may notice something different this week. Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed that federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE are being deployed inside Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Donald Trump ordered ICE agents to airports nationwide to help the Transportation Security Administration deal with staffing shortages during the ongoing federal shutdown. Because many TSA workers have been reporting to work without pay, callouts have increased and long security lines have started building across the country, including in Atlanta.
So ICE agents are being assigned to support crowd control, manage lines, and assist with ID checks. Officials said they will not replace TSA officers or handle screening equipment. However, Trump also pointed out that ICE agents already have authority tied to immigration enforcement, which has raised concern among aviation groups and lawmakers.
Mayor Dickens addressed that concern directly. He said the agents in Atlanta are assigned strictly to support TSA operations and are not there to carry out immigration enforcement. He also made it clear that Atlanta Police have not been asked to assist and city operations are expected to continue as normal.
Mayor Dickens said his administration will continue monitoring the situation and keep the public informed. He also emphasized that Atlanta remains focused on making sure travelers feel safe and supported while moving through the airport.
