President Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to US airports on Monday if Democrats do not agree to measures strengthening security and immigration enforcement. The move follows the failure of a homeland security funding bill in the Senate and a continuing 36-day partial government shutdown.
The President stated he has already instructed ICE agents to “GET READY” and warned against further delays. This action comes as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff face a second missed paycheck, leading to increased sickouts and concerns about travel disruption, particularly during spring break.
Critics have questioned ICE’s qualifications for airport security duties, noting their primary focus is immigration enforcement and they lack training for checkpoint operations. The President also called for a “heavy emphasis” on the arrests of Somali immigrants.
Lawmakers remain in disagreement over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, leaving TSA personnel without pay and potentially impacting airport security nationwide.