US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to major airports across the United States, stating they will begin arresting “all illegal immigrants” as early as Monday.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said ICE agents would take on an expanded role in airport operations amid ongoing disruptions caused by a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He described ICE personnel would provide security “like no one has ever seen before,” including the “immediate arrest” of undocumented migrants.
The announcement comes as tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who handle passenger screening, have gone without pay due to the funding impasse in Congress. The financial strain has led to increased absences, with the DHS reporting that nearly 12 percent of TSA staff did not report for duty on Sunday, contributing to long lines and delays at airports nationwide. Recent reports indicate this has gone up to 35-38 percent of TSA staff not reporting for duty.
To address staffing shortages, federal authorities have begun deploying ICE officers to assist in what officials described as support roles, such as managing queues and handling administrative tasks. Acting TSA leadership said the agents are not trained to conduct security screenings and are not intended to replace TSA officers.
However, Trump’s statements have raised concerns about the scope of ICE’s involvement. While administration officials indicated the agents would focus on logistical support, the president has publicly suggested they could detain undocumented individuals at airports. He also made specific references to migrants from Somalia.
The deployment follows a prolonged political deadlock in Congress over DHS funding. While a broader federal spending package was approved in February, lawmakers failed to reach agreement on DHS appropriations. Democrats have pushed for new restrictions on immigration enforcement, including requirements for agents to display identification and limits on the use of face coverings, while Republicans have rejected those proposals.
The standoff has left TSA workers unpaid, even as the agency remains operational. Many officers, classified as essential workers, have continued reporting to duty despite missing paychecks, while others have taken leave or sought additional work.
ICE operations, however, have not been affected by the funding lapse. The agency continues to operate under separate, multi-year funding approved under a previous spending measure, allowing it to deploy personnel despite the broader shutdown.
ICE agents have already been observed at several major airports, including those in Atlanta, New York, Houston, and Chicago, as well as other key travel hubs across the country. Officials said their presence is intended to help “manage congestion and maintain order” during peak travel periods.
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA workers, criticized the deployment, saying airport security staff “deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents.”
