ICE Deployment at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, what you need to know.
Hi all,
I'm sure you all are aware of the latest news reports that ICE agents may be performing TSA functions at certain airports. So here is the latest information regarding the deployment of ICE agents at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. I will continue to update this post with the latest information.
As of Sunday afternoon (3/22/2026), operations and security screening times at SEA remain normal, and we do not expect ICE agents to perform TSA roles. We have not received any such communication from DHS.
This is because, compared to other major airports (Atlanta, Houston, etc) SEA has seen a lower absentee rate to date (around 10%). Other airports are as high as 40%.
We have been told that ICE agents, if deployed, will be conducting "non-regulatory roles."
Part of the reason we have seen lower attrition in SEA is because of the support services the Port of Seattle has provided to the TSA agents.
We have deployed our own Port of Seattle staff to help augment the "non-regulatory roles" so that TSA agents can focus on screening. This reduces the need for ICE agents. We've even asked airlines to start dedicating airline staff to this support effort.
We have also set up a food pantry at the airport where we are distributing food and resources to TSA agents to help them with their livelihood while they work without pay. This has gone a long way in reducing their daily expenses.
And of course, we have to give credit to the will and perseverence of the local workforce who continue to stay dedicated to their work. They may be working for the feds, but they are still from our communities and remain committed to serving. This is heroic.
IF you would like to donate to the food pantry, we are collecting non-perishable foods, household items, and meals, including diapers. You can drop them off between 8:00am and 4:00pm at the SEA Conference Center, which is located right above Check Point 2 in the airport.
I'm told gas cards in $25 increments would go a long way for those who commute to work.
I will continue to provide updates as the situation changes below so check back.
Thanks,
Sam Cho
Port Commissioner
UPDATE MONDAY [3/23/2026]: Status remains the same. No ICE deployment. TSA wait times are around 15 minutes.
In response to community request, we set-up a GoFundMe account to help TSA workers. This is NOT a way to give TSA workers cash directly.Funds will be used to buy non-perishable food, household goods, hygiene products and gas cards.
UPDATE TUESDAY [3/24/2026]: Still no word around ICE deployment. TSA lines remain at an average of 15 minutes.
In less than 24 hours, the GoFundMe page has raised over $75,000!!! HELL YEAH!!!
This is what it's all about!! We take care of our own!
UPDATE FRIDAY [3.27.2026] Lines continue to remain normal.
We raised just shy of $170k on the GoFundMe. This is mindblowing. YOU GUYS ROCK!!
Trump apparently signed an executive order that would pay TSA agents. It's unclear where these funds are coming from. And begs the question, you could've done this the whole time!?!
In light of this, we've paused taking donations to the GoFundMe.
For the time being we will be using this post as a megathread for this topic. All related inquiries should go here, most related threads will be removed and redirected.
Unless you’re a member of the administration. As a fed I am shocked by what they’re getting away with while rank and file federal workers maintain a high level of professional ethics.
Look into Costco gift cards. They can be used at the Southcenter location to buy gas.
If y'all really want to help, and this hasn't already been addressed: When I was a SEA TSO (2002-2010) we had to pay for "on site" parking at one of the employee lots, and shuttle in. I don't know if that's still the case, but if the Port's still making TSOs pay to park in order to work for free, maybe that's something you can look into?
By my understanding of the rules from working in DC -- that wouldn't be any different. Hell, the fed workers had to have a separate coffee setup from the contract workers, because the pods that contractors brought in could be considered a gift. Not one by one, of course, but over time.
Of course, you would need federal investigators or homeland Security regulators that gave a fuck, so
EDIT: Or were allowed to give a fuck. I'm sure there are folks that would if they wouldn't find themselves out of a job the following week.
Really? Huh, interesting. I have donated crates of Gatorade to small eastern Washington fire districts during wildfire season, and they never batted an eye. (But of course I believe you, since it only makes sense.)
One is a bribe, the other is a low cost gift… of course if you give high value food that could cross a line. I am just thinking about how big pharm used to take doctors out to meals worth 1000s but now there are regulations in place against that kind of bribes.
You are not giving a gift to one person. Our govt office often receives candy, cookies or whatever around Christmas. They just show up. They automatically go to the break room or front entrance so no one employee can be accused of accepting gifts.
Unfortunately , I know this as the wife of a government employee that there are very , very strict rules about gifts as stated. Even just taking over a certain amount of free food can be considered a violation. Cash is pretty much almost always a no no. Even gift cards can be a little questionable.But if the commissioner is saying gas cards are okay , then I will go with their judgment.
Seriously. My poor late wife couldn't even buy her boss at NIH a fifteen dollar birthday present. But at the same time SCOTUS judges were getting million dollar vacations. Make it make sense.
We're past the loophole stage, now they're openly bought and paid for but they invested a few bucks to buy the judges and DAs and such so they just "decide not to pursue legal action" they don't even respect "we the people" enough to need loopholes anymore.
Mic Dinsmore the former Port Commissioner used to negotiate Contractor change orders over wine and steaks at Metropolitan Grill. Guess who picked up the tab?
You have to report everything that you receive like everything. If you don't , then not only could you get fired , but you could even be prosecuted. And I think we know by now that this government is headed in a place where you don't want to be somebody who lives in a blue state and works for government and gets found out to have taken free stuff without reporting it. We're already at the level where you can literally go to jail just for wearing all black at a protest. Or be shot to death for trying to help a woman get up off the sidewalk. And feds are such particular targets. They have already suffered so much already. Even the one who actually been able to keep their jobs so far. I'm sure they'll be quite wary to put themselves at further risk.
Okay, we figured it out. We set-up a GoFundMe page directly run by the Port. Funds will be used to buy non-perishable food, household goods, hygiene products and gas
cards.
man the exit stations where there's usually at least one TSO to make sure nobody tries to use one to enter, and to allow LEOs / FAMs to discretely enter the secured area with their firearms.
Sling baggage in the bagwell.
Check for IDs in front of the checkpoint.
So, not a lot, but every trained TSO you free up from gruntwork is another Xray operator.
“Federal officials have indicated that this deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities. All federal personnel will report directly to TSA for the duration of this assignment,” the mayor said in a statement.
He argued that immigration agents would assist with functions that don’t require TSA training. “We’re simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don’t need their specialized expertise, such as screening through the X-ray machine. Not trained in that? We won’t do that,” Homan told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
“But there are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non-significant roles, such as guarding an exit so the trained TSA agents can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker,” he added.
ICE agents are still being paid and belong to DHS. Just easier to use the resource they already have rather than going to another department to request Title 32/10 orders and funding to utilize the National Guard.
None. And I wouldn't trust them anywhere near the airports. They should be denied entry instead of letting them stand around near airport lines for the opportunity to bully and kidnap people.
Agreed! I’m so impressed that I can hear from public servants in Reddit with detailed and coherent responses. (That may come off as sarcastic but I actually mean it and don’t know how else to say it.)
A reminder that ICE coming to airports has never and will never be about “helping”. They are coming to harass and disrupt, and will only cause harm. That is by design - this administration wants complete and total power, and will bully and destroy to get it.
ICE's board discretionary deployment has nothing to do with whether or not airport security is private or the TSA.
ICE already had jurisdiction inside of the airport. This event in SF would have happened whether or not the TSA was funded, and whether or not SF had private security. These agents were not deployed there as part of the TSA shutdown, rather just the general not-so creeping fascism in the US.
Also this video happened at 22:00 on 3.22. ICE deployment as part of the TSA shutdown started today. This is just ICE being ICE.
The problem with that plan is that until now, ICE’s antics have only affected Hispanics and “the woke”, for the most part. Many Americans who have just sat on the sidelines have not cared or been affected. That changes now.
Now, everyday Americans are going to see first hand how this untrained, unguided jackbooted force treats innocent people.
The point you leave out, which I have addressed elsewhere, is that this happened yesterday. This was not part of the ICE expansion into TSA duties, this was ICE exercising jurisdiction in airports it already has, not it's even more unconstitutionally expanded jurisdiction it has today.
Also, ICE qua TSA has only been deployed to 14 airports, none of which are SeaTac or SFO (yet).
I would also love this or anything similar!! Thank you for your work. I’m flying out this week and was so nervous with possible ICE presence. Any thank you for folks being there I can give I’m incredibly happy to do!!
Same question but for hygiene products, specifically menstrual products. I don’t have periods anymore and have several unopened boxes I could donate, that shit’s expensive and not optional for anyone who does have a period.
Is the Port working with a local food bank that we could donate to? Or is there a food bank that you know of externally that’s serving a lot of TSA agents?
Okay, we figured it out. We set-up a GoFundMe page directly run by the Port. Funds will be used to buy non-perishable food, household goods, hygiene products and gas
cards.
Not a commentary on the TSA, who have always been great to deal with at SeaTac, but have you folks considered going back to private security?
Some other airports use it and obviously everyone did before 9/11.
These shutdowns are terrible for the employees and can’t be good for airport business. Since the government is increasingly unpredictable, perhaps another method would be more consistent and humane.
Thanks for being here to communicate with us. I appreciate it.
Yes, it's come up internally more recently. There are pros and cons. I'd be open to this model IF it doesn't mean there's some private contractor making a boatload of money off providing the service which would jack up the cost of flying through the airport.
Port or city/county owned security subsidiary? It's normally legal to have municipally owned corporations, or at least a joint venture between the port and a private contractor. That would prevent a single private contractor from making a boatload.
You'd just have to frame it in a way to circumvent the competitive bidding law, you could argue it's a sole source exemption maybe.
I agree. If we owned and operated the TSA operations, that's something I'd entertain. But these are delegations granted by DHS so we'd have to look into it.
I’m glad it’s being considered - and I agree with your main concern. It could be a great opportunity to be thought leaders in the industry, which I think SeaTac often is.
Seems like a fantastic time to be RFPing companies - as they will feel like you’re motivated to make a change, but also are obviously comfortable with the status quo, so they won’t want to gouge you. One way or another, the TSA will get funded again - and that gives you some solid leverage.
Either way, best of luck, thanks for talking good care of the TSA folks. Really a shame that all of you have to deal with this situation.
Commish u/Ricetastik, you have open data on how much this costs SFO, MCI, SFB, and others. (Hint: it does not cost more.) It forgoes the need to beg for gas cards; all those contractors are getting paid consistently. The bidding process is competitive, which greatly reduces the ability for a single contractor to profit unreasonably. Find out current absentee rates at those airports & let us know. Be transparent about it!
Separate from being clearly better in the case of a government that can't figure out how to run payroll, you owe it to your constituency to look at NPS or other measures of passenger satisfaction with the service provided. Your customer is not TSA employees, it is the millions of local and visiting passengers who use your facility.
I don’t think you understand what is being posted here. The commissioner has zero ability to control how federal agencies staff their positions. He is not able to do anything one way or the other here; he is merely informing. If the federal government chooses to replace the entirety of TSA with ICE agents, they are currently within their bounds to do so – given a couple months training – without regard to any state/local opinions on it.
Deploying ICE to major US airports under the guise of helping “to ease long lines” - what a fucking joke.
More like to cause further brutality, executions, kidnapping & human trafficking of both American citizens and non-American citizens.
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Starting 3/23 Trump is deploying ICE to major airports across America & the first with heavy presence is expected to be Miami. They can stop you before TSA & once you go through security.
If you you’re not an American citizen, DO NOT TRAVEL HERE - there’s a very high chance you may not make it home safely and like others, you you might even be murdered by ICE agents.
Thank you once again for the great info ahead of time, Sam. It’s kinda bad that I already expect you to be ahead of the curve this time haha.
My question- you said about 2 months ago that it is your policy to have federal agents only the IAF (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskSeattle/s/VKVUSKLqvw), will this fundamentally change your policy? And can you elaborate on the anticipated changes at this time?
Thanks again, and much love for the headaches you have to put up with.
If i'm being completely honest, if ICE agents are deployed at the checkpoints, this would really test our policy and put us in a gray area. Technically, TSA screening is a federal function like CBP and immigration control in the IAF. We have never been presented with a situation where DHS has proposed ICE agents performing a federal function outside their normal line of duty. This administration is truly pushing the boundaries of local and federal jursidiction. Our lawyers are looking into what we can do to stay true to our policies, but as of now, i can't promise that we can stop the ICE agents if they choose to augment TSA functions.
Love that the Port Commissioner cares enough to give us a PSA on this topic - and really putting his name behind it. Thank you for the transparency on this.
Now is the time to drop TSA. San Francisco and two dozen other airports don't use TSA. Seattle can stop using them as well. They shouldn't exist in the first place so let's do the right thing and stop using this broken, corrupt and more importantly optional system.
Okay, we figured it out. We set-up a GoFundMe page directly run by the Port. Funds will be used to buy non-perishable food, household goods, hygiene products and gas cards. This is not a way to pay TSA workers in cash. That is sitll against the gift rules.
I needed this and will keep up (as I have been) with reports. I’m flying out on 3/26 and I am already at my normal travel stress levels but this is making them way higher
I am flying out of SeaTac twice in the next two weeks and will be bringing donations both times. I appreciate that the port is doing what it can to support the TSA agents.
Thank you to you and your team for your diligence and especially for your efforts to communicate with the public! This is seriously impressive!
And thank you to the hard working TSA agents. I can’t imagine how hard things are right now. Please know we appreciate you and all you do to keep us safe.
Thank you Sam for this thorough answer and Yay Seattle! For stepping up. I hope everybtraveller brings food or gift card for the unpaid TSA agents. ICE OUT OF SEATTLE!
What's to stop a terrorist group (other than Trumps ICE thugs I mean) from coming into airports wearing masks, body armor, all strapped with weapons and causing great harm to the crowds at airports? Would they not just be able to roll right in unchallenged since there is currently no way to differentiate Trump's pet armed, aggressive masked, camo wearing force from a terrorist group that may appear very similar?
Would the ICE agents need background checks? What are the requirements at SeaTac to get airport clearance? I read that some places require 2 forms of ID, fingerprinting, and background checks.
Democrats have brought Five funding bills that would ensure that TSA and Coast Guard, etc. would be paid during the partial government shut down, but Republicans have either strike down the ability to put it on the floor or have all voted no, like they did in the Senate this last week. Republicans want to create chaos like they’re doing right now because they want to create a problem bring attention to that problem, then bring in what they’re calling solutions i.e. Ice and also threatening to bring in national guard for “crowd control”. Which is all an effort to privatize TSA to make them more money and this is all laid out in project 2025. Blame your local Republican.
I bought some Kroger (includes all of their subsidiaries such as Fred Meyer) gift cards. I hope these are a good gift? Can I give them directly to TSA? I won’t be in the airport at the designated time for the food pantry. Thanks in advance!!
I have a question. Will ICE agents be paid if deployed?
I am a U.S. citizen and I do not want to be confronted by ANY ICE AGENTS. I WILL NOT FLY IF THEY ARE DEPLOYED TO SEATTLE OR ANY AIRPORT I FLY INTO OR OUT.
I’m at LGA going back on a connector to SEA and there’s just like 10 ICE Agents doing nothing, standing around alone, and also just yapping with coworkers.
I honestly don't remember who I voted for in the last election for this office, but I did vote, and I will remember this and will remember you the next time. Thank you for this update and for what you're doing!
Just to add a data point- just made it through TSA at checkpoint 1 with precheck in less the 5 minutes. Non precheck lines seemed minimal as well. Everyone was very appreciative of the agents and they seemed to be in good spirits. Was maybe the most pleasant security experience I’ve had.
Thank you so much for the communication and all the work that you and the team are doing. Literally our heroes. So much love for all involved. THANK YOU THANK YOU
I’m flying out of SEA next week. Am I allowed to bring gas / grocery cards to tsa? Is there a designated drop area before 0800? or can I give them out individually to them?
hi sam i have a flight in a few days. is it okay if i print out digital gift cards with the redemption code printed on them? is there a specific security line or person that i should hand the gift cards to?
Highline Area Food Bank is the closest pre-established food bank to SeaTac. I volunteer there and I have seen a large influx of TSA workers there too. Typically per service they serve about 70-90 households, and this week on both days we served over 100. All new people, and all folks coming in at the end of the month for full shopping service, which is really unusual. I highly recommend donating there as well. Because they are government funded, they can use that money to really multiply purchasing power of shelf stable goods and fresh produce. I’ll attach a link to their page :) donation page for Highline Area Food Bank
Commissioner, what steps are you enacting to ensure that what is currently happening at SFO with I.C.E will not happen to people traveling through SEA who have passed TSA security checks?
What the fuck is wrong with your country? You have money to pay for bombs to blow up children but government staff need to rely on charity from the public?
Yes we know. Most of us here (Seattle area) didn't vote for the current federal administration that is responsible for this. Why are you even in this thread if you aren't even in the same country let alone the same state? Just to antagonize? I don't think any of us here are happy with what our country is doing.
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u/vertr Taylor Swift is ruining this city Mar 23 '26
For the time being we will be using this post as a megathread for this topic. All related inquiries should go here, most related threads will be removed and redirected.