President Donald Trump said Sunday that immigration agents will be deployed to U.S. airports starting Monday to assist overstretched security staff, as the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security enters its sixth week.

The plan would involve officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement supporting Transportation Security Administration personnel, many of whom have been working without pay during the funding impasse.

Administration officials have not provided details on which airports will be affected, how many agents will be deployed, or the exact scope of their responsibilities. However, DHS officials said the move is intended to ease long security lines at airports, particularly during the busy spring travel season.

White House border adviser Tom Homan said ICE agents would likely take on limited roles such as monitoring exit lanes and checking identification, allowing trained TSA officers to focus on screening duties. He added that agents would not operate X-ray machines.

Still, the plan has raised concerns among former officials and security experts. Training for TSA officers typically takes several months, and ICE agents do not undergo the same certification process. Former TSA administrator John Pistole cautioned that while such a deployment may be legally possible, it could raise safety and operational risks.

Homan also acknowledged that immigration enforcement at airports could continue under the plan, noting that such operations already occur regularly.

The proposal follows comments from Trump indicating that ICE agents could arrest undocumented immigrants at airports, with particular emphasis on individuals from Somalia—a stance that has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and lawmakers.

The airport disruptions stem from a broader political standoff in Washington tied to the DHS shutdown, which began after Democrats refused to approve funding without new restrictions on immigration enforcement practices. The dispute intensified following the fatal shootings of two civilians, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, during federal operations in Minneapolis earlier this year.

The ongoing impasse has already affected staffing levels, with DHS reporting that at least 366 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began, raising concerns about the long-term impact on airport security operations.