Federal immigration agents will assist TSA operations as staffing shortages strain airports across the Carolinas.
Federal immigration agents will begin assisting airport security operations nationwide on Monday March 23, as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues to drain TSA staffing, prompting concerns and logistical questions for airports across the Carolinas.
3,250 officers called out Saturday, March 21, according to TSA data, accounting for 11.51% of the scheduled workforce — unpaid screeners are leaving the agency in growing numbers.
White House border czar Tom Homan said ICE personnel will be assigned to non‑specialized security duties – primarily exit monitoring and perimeter posts to free remaining TSA officers for screening.
The deployment is expected to affect both incoming and departing flyers at Wilmington, Charlotte, and Myrtle Beach airports, as agents take over exit‑monitoring and perimeter duties so TSA can reassign its shrinking staff to screening.
The shift will likely create visible federal presence at all three airports and may slow passenger flow on both sides of the terminal, longer or shifting security lines for those departing, and potential exit congestion and baggage‑claim delays for those arriving, especially at high‑traffic hubs like Charlotte and tourist‑heavy Myrtle Beach.
Charlotte Douglas, already strained by extended wait times during the shutdown, is likely to see early ICE support due to its size and volume. Wilmington International and Myrtle Beach International may receive agents later, depending on wait times, staffing levels, and seasonal traffic patterns. DHS has not clarified whether ICE agents reassigned to airport duties will continue immigration enforcement during the deployment, though the administration has signaled a more aggressive posture.
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