Trump Orders ICE Agents to Airports as DHS Funding Standoff Worsens
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will assist Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at airports this week, as delays and security staffing shortages continue to worsen amid a stalemate in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The president stated on Truth Social that ICE agents will begin deployment on Monday, following threats made the previous day if Democrats did not agree to fund DHS.
Trump’s Announcement and Justification
“On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts and all,” Mr. Trump wrote in his post. He further stated that ICE agents would be empowered to provide “Security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have arrive into our Country,” with a particular focus on immigrants from Somalia.
Congressional Impasse and TSA Impact
The move comes after a bill to fund DHS and provide payments for TSA agents failed to advance in the Senate on Friday. TSA officers missed their first full paycheck last weekend, and absences are climbing nationwide, according to Homeland Security. More than half of scheduled staff were absent Sunday at an airport in Houston, while Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reported 38% and 32% absenteeism on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Over 300 TSA employees have left the agency since the start of the DHS shutdown.
Airport Delays and Travel Chaos
Long security lines and worsening screening conditions are being reported at airports across the country. Wait times have stretched into multiple hours at some airports, with passengers in cities like Houston, Atlanta, and New Orleans reporting delays that have caused them to miss flights. Wait times of 120 minutes were reported at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston early Friday afternoon, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reported an 80-minute wait time at its main checkpoint.
Other Responses to the Crisis
Billionaire Elon Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during the funding impasse, stating he wanted to help alleviate the negative impact on Americans traveling through airports. Pittsburgh International Airport partnered with a local food bank to support TSA agents and other federal workers affected by the shutdown, and a pop-up food bank in South Florida fed nearly 200 TSA workers and their families.
Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations
White House border czar Tom Homan met with a bipartisan group of senators for the second consecutive day on Friday in an attempt to resolve the standoff. While Democratic lawmakers left the meeting without commenting, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, indicated there was “deal space” emerging from the discussions. However, he questioned the Democrats’ willingness to agree to increased funding for ICE.
Political Standoff and Potential Shutdown Extension
Senate Majority Leader Schumer stated that Democrats are willing to fund TSA while continuing negotiations on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats have proposed policy changes, including requiring ICE agents to obtain a warrant before entering homes, wearing identifying information on their uniforms, and banning the use of masks. Republicans have agreed to some changes, such as expanded use of body-worn cameras, but with exceptions for undercover operations. With Congress scheduled to begin a two-week Easter recess near the end of the month, Senator Thune has threatened to preserve senators in Washington if the impasse is not resolved.