WASHINGTON, United States — President Donald Trump said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be sent to U.S. airports starting Monday to help relieve Transportation Security Administration staffing pressures during a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, a move that has drawn swift criticism from Democrats and civil liberties advocates. Details of the plan and the shutdown-driven disruption were reported by Reuters. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the plan and said ICE agents are trained and can assist TSA operations, according to ABC News. Separate coverage described worsening airport lines, missed TSA paychecks, and the administration’s plan for ICE support at airports, reported by CBS News. Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least two of the three respected sources we curated on this breaking story.
- Trump said ICE agents will go to airports starting Monday to assist TSA operations amid the DHS funding lapse.
- TSA officers have missed paychecks during the shutdown, while call-outs and resignations have contributed to long security lines and delays.
- Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding, with Democrats pressing for ICE policy changes and Republicans resisting those proposals.
- Elon Musk publicly offered to cover TSA paychecks during the funding impasse, according to multiple reports.
Additional Details Reported
Duffy argued that ICE agents can help manage passenger flow and have experience operating similar screening equipment in other contexts, while Reuters noted ICE is not specifically trained for TSA’s airport checkpoint duties. The administration said the deployment is intended to prevent passenger delays from worsening as the shutdown continues and spring travel demand rises.
Operational Questions
Officials have not publicly detailed how many ICE agents will be assigned or which airports will receive them first. CBS News reported that border czar Tom Homan said he was working on a plan with ICE leadership and TSA officials, and that ICE could take on some roles around entrances and exits while TSA focuses on screening tasks.
Political Stakes
Democrats have tied any broader DHS funding agreement to changes in immigration enforcement practices, including limits on masking and expanded accountability requirements. Republicans have argued those restrictions would endanger agents and are pushing for full DHS funding without major operational constraints.
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Description: Airport luggage screening X-ray station
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