Trump sends ICE agents to airports amid partial government shutdown

President Donald Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to major U.S. airports on March 23, 2026, amid a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

“I'd rather be here early and be in the front of the line," said Loynd”

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The deployment came after Trump threatened on Truth Social over the weekend to send ICE agents if Democrats did not immediately agree to fund airport security.

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The administration framed this as both a security measure and political pressure tactic.

ICE agents were deployed to more than a dozen airports including Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International, New York's JFK and LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia, Chicago O'Hare, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Houston Hobby, Houston Bush Intercontinental, New Orleans, Fort Myers, and San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

The deployment stems from a partial government shutdown of DHS that began February 14, 2026.

Democrats refused to fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations following federal officers' fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

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The shutdown has left approximately 50,000 TSA employees working without pay.

Hundreds have quit and thousands have called out, with absentee rates reaching 11.76% nationally.

Spikes of 41.5% at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, 37.4% at JFK, and 42.3% at New Orleans were reported.

This has created unprecedentedly long security lines, with travelers at some airports facing waits of three to four hours.

Airport officials have advised arriving four hours before departure times.

ICE agents have been assigned limited support roles rather than conducting passenger screenings.

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Duties include monitoring exit lanes, managing crowds, checking passenger identification, and making routine announcements.

The administration emphasized that ICE agents would not operate X-ray machines or magnetometers since they lack specialized training.

Unlike TSA agents who are working without pay, ICE agents continue to receive their salaries.

ICE agents are funded by Trump's 2025 tax cuts bill that provided $75 billion in funding for ICE over four years.

White House border czar Tom Homan stated that ICE agents would focus on airports with the longest wait times.

Homan described the deployment as a 'force multiplier' to help TSA officers.

The deployment has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, civil liberties groups, and labor unions.

Critics argue that ICE agents lack specialized training for airport security operations.

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They warn that ICE agents could create fear and confusion among travelers.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called ICE agents at airports 'the last thing that the American people need'.

Jeffries warned they could 'potentially brutalize or in some instances, kill them.'

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill accused Trump of creating 'chaos.'

The American Civil Liberties Union warned families traveling should not have to encounter armed immigration agents in airport settings.

The TSA officers' union opposed the deployment, with AFGE President Everett Kelley stating that 'putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one.'

The deployment represents the latest escalation in a political standoff between Trump and congressional Democrats.

Democrats have refused to fund DHS without new guardrails on ICE operations.

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Their demands include prohibiting agents from wearing masks and requiring judicial warrants for home entry.

Trump has rejected compromise proposals and escalated demands.

He insists he won't sign any legislation unless Democrats support the SAVE America Act.

The SAVE America Act is a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill.

The administration has blamed Democrats for creating the crisis at airports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote that 'Democrats in Congress are intentionally inflicting this pain on American travelers and federal workers.'

Bipartisan negotiations continue as Congress faces a deadline before a scheduled two-week recess starting March 27.