The long lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport are getting shorter hours after ICE agents arrived on Monday morning.
According to CNN’s Ryan Young, the average wait time to get through the TSA security checkpoint is “under 40 minutes” on Monday afternoon.
The previous average wait time was 3-4 hours to get through the TSA checkpoint at Atlanta Airport.
Some travelers report wait times of 5 minutes to 2 hours at other airports after ICE arrived on the job on Monday.
ICE just fixed Atlanta's airport in a matter of hours. pic.twitter.com/Cf3vU9aBBP
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) March 23, 2026
TSA agents who haven’t received a paycheck in weeks called out sick, causing chaos and massive lines at airports around the nation.
ICE officers showed up at Atlanta Airport on Monday morning and went directly to TSA checkpoints.
TSA agents haven’t been paid due to the partial government shutdown. A TSA union leader said workers are facing “eviction notices” and “empty refrigerators”.
President Trump said there will be no deal to end the government shutdown until Democrats join Republicans to approve the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.
The SAVE America Act requires voters to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote.
But Democrats say the SAVE America Act would make it difficult for Black people to vote because we can’t get IDs or we don’t know how to operate a computer, etc.
How is there at 10:30 AM and was at my gate in less than two hours. I’ve never seen the airport more organized and more friendly and helpful.
— Glen Pridgen (@glenpridgen) March 23, 2026
What? The reporter literally says ICE is doing nothing more than walking around…I mean "patrolling". Please explain how that interprets to them fixing security line; it doesn't. They just happened to be there when TSA has the lines under control.
— misfitsfiendcrypt (@fiendcrypt) March 23, 2026
This is not true. I work for TSA at Atlanta Airport and ICE did not do anything to reduce wait times. It’s the work of the TSA officers present and the passenger volume has slowed down right now. ICE has no formal role at the airport.
— Kevin Scurry (@mr_scurry) March 23, 2026
My friend said Nashville airport took 5 minutes to get thru security
— Genxgirl1968 (@jacklyn7556) March 23, 2026
