Trump orders ICE agents to assist US airport security during DHS funding shutdown
Consensus Summary
US President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist at US airports starting Monday, 25 March 2026, to alleviate security line congestion caused by a partial government shutdown. The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has left TSA workers unpaid and over 400 having quit, exacerbating delays at major airports like Atlanta and New York. Trump framed the deployment as a response to Democrats blocking DHS funding, though ICE agents lack formal training for airport security. Democrats condemned the move, citing past controversies like the fatal shootings of two American citizens by ICE agents in Minnesota, while Republicans argued it was necessary to maintain airport security. Tom Homan, Trumpās border czar, led discussions on deploying ICE to cover exits and check IDs, though details remain unclear. The Senate rejected Democratic funding proposals, and bipartisan talks continued as tensions over immigration enforcement and shutdown resolution persisted.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist at US airports starting Monday, 25 March 2026, to ease security line congestion caused by a partial government shutdown.
- The partial government shutdown began on 14 February 2026, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have missed their first full paycheck on 27 March, with over 400 TSA employees quitting since the shutdown.
- ICE agents are not specifically trained for airport security, which is the domain of the TSA, according to ABC and Guardian sources.
- The Senate rejected a Democratic motion to advance DHS funding legislation on 23 March 2026, and a bipartisan group of senators met with White House officials on 23-24 March 2026 to discuss a resolution.
- ICE agents were involved in the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis in January 2026, leading to Democratic demands for reforms in ICE operations.
- Tom Homan, named by Trump as border czar, is leading the effort to deploy ICE agents to airports and has stated that details of their roles are still being finalized.
- The partial shutdown affects hundreds of thousands of DHS workers, including TSA, US Secret Service, and Coast Guard personnel, who have worked without pay since mid-February 2026.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Blake Wilbanks, a 43-year-old traveler, waited two-and-a-half hours early for his flight at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport due to shutdown-related delays.
- TSA Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern about the uncertainty travelers face regarding wait times, calling it a 'leverage point' for Democrats.
- Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination to be the next DHS secretary is expected to be confirmed by late Monday, 25 March 2026, with Mullin framed as a 'steady hand' after Kristi Noem's tenure.
- ICE agents are already assigned at many airports across the country, primarily for criminal investigations related to smuggling, according to Tom Homan.
- Trump's Truth Social post on 23 March 2026 explicitly stated ICE agents would 'do Security like no one has ever seen before,' including 'the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants.'
- Trump referenced Somali immigrants in his post, claiming they 'have totally destroyed' Minnesota, despite no evidence, and previously called them 'garbage.'
- The Guardian noted that USC 1357 permits arrests without a warrant 'within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States,' but disputed whether ICE has statutory authority to arrest non-US citizens at airports without a warrant.
- Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described recent talks with Republicans as 'productive conversations,' while Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged quick action to resolve the shutdown.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states that Trump ordered ICE agents to airports 'unless Democrats agreed on a bill to fund the DHS' on Sunday, 24 March, but Guardian implies the order was made on Saturday, 23 March, with no conditional language.
- ABC reports that Tom Homan said 'we're sending ā what airports we're starting with and where we're sending them' by the end of Sunday, 24 March, while Guardian does not specify a timeline for the plan's finalization.
- ABC mentions that ICE agents could check passenger IDs before screening areas, but Guardian does not mention this specific role for ICE agents.
- Guardian states Trump's post included a claim that ICE would 'immediately arrest all Illegal Immigrants,' which is not mentioned in ABC's reporting.
- ABC reports that Senate Democrats blocked the DHS funding bill 'the fifth time' since the shutdown began, while Guardian does not specify the number of times the bill was blocked.
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