Inside Democrats’ actions during the ongoing funding standoff have drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, who argues that their refusal to pass a full Department of Homeland Security funding bill without immigration conditions has led to tougher enforcement measures against illegal immigrants.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do security as no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.”
Trump announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will begin deploying to airports across the country starting Monday, March 23rd, to assist Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.
The move comes amid a prolonged partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has left thousands of TSA officers working without pay and caused widespread travel disruptions with long security lines.
Inside Democrats’ Action
The funding standoff traces back to mid-February, when Democrats in Congress refused to support a bill to fully fund DHS without attaching conditions on immigration enforcement practices.
Also Read: Republicans Change Tune on Deporting Illegal Immigrants, Send a Demand to Trump
This has kept parts of the department in limbo since February 14, as negotiations drag on with no resolution in sight. The TSA, which falls under DHS oversight, has seen staffing shortages worsen as unpaid workers call out sick or resign, leading to hours-long waits at major airports during a busy travel period.
Trump made the announcement via posts on Truth Social on Sunday, praising TSA agents who have continued showing up despite the lack of paychecks.
He criticized Democrats sharply, saying they are “only focused on protecting hard-line criminals who have entered our Country illegally” and are “endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts.”
He emphasized that ICE agents would perform exceptionally well in their support role, adding, “No matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work. They will do a fantastic Job. “
The president placed border czar Tom Homan in charge of the deployment. Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Homan described the plan as a work in progress, with decisions on initial airports to be finalized soon.
He noted that ICE already has a presence at many airports and that the effort would expand to help move lines along and support TSA’s mission while following security protocols.
“It’s about helping TSA do their mission and get the American public through that airport as quickly as they can,” Homan said.
The announcement follows Trump’s earlier statements on Saturday, where he threatened to send ICE agents to handle airport security if no funding deal was reached.
Also Read: Trump Faces Backlash Over Plan to Deploy ICE Agents at Airports
He highlighted a focus on immigration enforcement, including targeting undocumented immigrants at airports, with particular mention of those from Somalia in one post.
Republicans have argued that Democrats are holding the entire department hostage to push for changes to ICE operations, while Democrats have countered that Republicans are blocking targeted funding for TSA alone and prioritizing broader enforcement funding.
Senate proceedings reflected the divide. Funding for DHS failed to advance on Friday after Democrats withheld support, and the Senate on Saturday rejected a Democratic motion to fund the TSA separately. Republicans maintain that the department must be funded as a whole, not in pieces.
Travelers have faced mounting frustration as the shutdown stretches into its second month. Staffing shortfalls have led to increased absences, with reports of callout rates spiking at some major hubs.
The deployment of ICE agents raises questions about their exact role, since they are not trained in TSA screening procedures. Officials have suggested they could assist with non-screening tasks like managing lines, directing passengers, or securing entrances and exits to free up TSA officers for core security duties.
Democrats have demanded reforms to enforcement practices following high-profile incidents involving ICE actions, while the Trump administration and Republicans push for unrestricted funding to continue aggressive deportation efforts.
