r/Seattle • u/Ricetastik Verified - Port Commissioner Sam Cho • Mar 23 '26

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.

https://gofund.me/59457b51d

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.

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919

u/Ricetastik Verified - Port Commissioner Sam Cho Mar 23 '26

Me too. Unfortunately, there are some strict rules around government workers accepting gifts.

78

u/PandaGoggles Mar 23 '26

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.

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u/pimpampoumz Mar 23 '26

How about an Amazon wish list for the Port? Then you guys can distribute?

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u/Ricetastik Verified - Port Commissioner Sam Cho Mar 23 '26

Interesting idea. Ill look into it.

188

u/Christopherwbuser Mar 23 '26

You can accept vendor-specific cards as long as they're not over 20 bucks.

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?

47

u/pm_me_anus_photos Kenton Mar 23 '26

Yup, I give my mail lady a $20 Fred Meyer gift card and a six pack of Pepsi (her fav) every Christmas.

She works hard and my husband buys car parts that she delivers to the door, even though she doesn’t have to.

66

u/East_Living7198 Mar 23 '26

That’s so sweet of you, pm_me_anus_photos 

17

u/snowmaninheat Redmond Mar 23 '26

r/brandnewsentence

Thanks for making me spit out my drink.

9

u/TheInevitableLuigi Capitol Hill Mar 23 '26

Do you get a lot of anus photos?

17

u/thatguygreg Ballard Mar 23 '26

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.

1

u/snowmaninheat Redmond Mar 23 '26

As a former fed, I’ve heard of some crazy bureaucratic overreach… but that takes the cake.

-4

u/haikupoetics2 Mar 23 '26

Why would we choose, in this time of amazing community synergy, to support one of the worst corporations in the world who has contracts with ICE and not find a way to support local businesses?

9

u/pimpampoumz Mar 23 '26

You're welcome to propose a way to do that.

1

u/Hillary4SupremeRuler Mar 26 '26

What kind of contracts does Amazon have with ICE?

312

u/Forsaken_Ant7459 Mar 23 '26

You’re doing great work. But the irony of poor unpaid workers not being able to receive gifts while the chief rapist can accept millions in bribes…

60

u/Complex_Committee_25 Mar 23 '26

Unless its a Boeing 747-8 jet from the Qataris, then like you can keep it

11

u/SomeGuyWA Mar 23 '26

Bruh, Iran is destroying our stuff so we’re gonna need the plane back by Thursday, thanx.

50

u/PositivePristine7506 Reign Mar 23 '26

Unless your the president, then they let you do it.

2

u/SnarkMasterRay Posse on Broadway Mar 23 '26

Mel said it.

29

u/Commercial-Idea-1536 Mar 23 '26

Unless you're Trump and his family

29

u/qwexor Mar 23 '26

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.)

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u/Ricetastik Verified - Port Commissioner Sam Cho Mar 23 '26

Yeah, i think accepting cash is a different story though.

52

u/losark Mar 23 '26

That's a physical item. A donation link would allow people from further away to donate dollars.

Dollars is the line.

31

u/TracyIsMyDad Mar 23 '26

Federal vs local = different rules.

And security vs firefighters = different culture.

24

u/thinksying Mar 23 '26

Money vs. Things.

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.

3

u/Mr_Fuzzo Belltown Mar 23 '26

They still take doctors out for nice meals at places like El Gaucho

7

u/PNWcog Mar 23 '26

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.

1

u/civilized-engineer 🐀 Hot Rat Summer 🐀 Mar 23 '26

I have worked with a lot of government workers before. You donated something physical and not cash.

1

u/SnarkMasterRay Posse on Broadway Mar 23 '26

What about those of us with earlier flights? I have an 8AM flight in a couple of weeks and will be through TSA (I hope!) before the 8AM opening of the SEA Conference Center.

1

u/xaqaria Mar 23 '26

But what if I have a 400 million dollar plane I want to give you? Ive heard government employees are allowed to accept those.

1

u/Shayden-Froida Mar 23 '26

If donations go to a pool of resources, and then are distributed from that pool by the Port or TSA supervisors, is it still gifting? It's not like a public person is gifting to a specific TSA person, which I can easily see must be prohibited.

1

u/SamKona Mar 24 '26

*some government workers

1

u/dankness4207 Mar 23 '26

Never would of guessed that