Trump Threatens to Deploy ICE Agents to Airports Amid Shutdown
US President Donald Trump on Saturday, March 21, 2026, threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to US airports if congressional Democrats do not agree to fund airport security. The move comes as a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enters its 36th day, leading to increased wait times at airport security checkpoints.
Shutdown and TSA Staffing Shortages
The federal government has been partially shut down since February 14, 2026, as lawmakers struggle to fund the Department of Homeland Security 1. Approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees have been working without pay for weeks 3. This has resulted in TSA agents calling in sick or quitting, leading to longer lines and travel disruptions at major airports across the country 1.
Trump’s Proposal and Social Media Statement
President Trump announced his intention to deploy ICE agents via his Truth Social account on Saturday morning 1. He stated, “If the radical left Democrats don’t immediately sign an agreement to let our country, in particular, our airports, be free and safe again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE agents to the airports where they will do security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all illegal immigrants who have come into our country.” 1
ICE’s Role and Capabilities
ICE, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is the primary government agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and removing individuals from the country illegally 1. However, ICE agents are not specifically trained for airport security, which is traditionally handled by the TSA 1. Despite the shutdown, ICE operations are largely unaffected, having received approximately $75 billion from a 2025 tax and spending cut law 1.
Political Context and DHS Leadership
The current impasse over DHS funding has led to significant political friction. President Trump recently fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid criticism of the administration’s immigration policies 1. The US Senate is currently considering the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin as the next DHS secretary.
Previous Concerns Regarding TSA and ICE Collaboration
In the past year, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) raised concerns about the TSA providing lists of airport travelers to ICE 1, a practice that represented a departure from TSA’s previous policies.