ICE to Assist TSA at Airports Until 'Fully Operational'

Former ICE Director Homan says immigration agents will remain at airports during DHS funding impasse.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:10pm

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Former ICE Director Tom Homan said on Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will continue to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports until the TSA feels they are 'fully operational,' despite the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

Why it matters

The continued presence of ICE agents at airports during the shutdown highlights the tensions between immigration enforcement and airport security, as well as the broader political impasse over border security and immigration policy that has led to the funding lapse for DHS.

The details

Homan, who served as the Trump administration's border czar, said ICE will maintain a 'nice presence' at airports to assist the understaffed TSA until normal operations can resume. This comes as the Senate passed a DHS funding bill without money for ICE, while the House version would extend funding for the entire department, including ICE, for 60 days. The dueling bills have left the shutdown unresolved.

  • The partial government shutdown affecting DHS has lasted over 40 days.
  • President Trump signed an order to pay TSA workers, but 500 agents have quit since the shutdown began.

The players

Tom Homan

Former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration's border czar.

Kristi Noem

Former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who departed earlier this month amid questions about ad contracts under her watch.

Markwayne Mullin

Former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma who was recently sworn in as the new DHS Secretary, replacing Noem.

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What they’re saying

“Look, we're going to continue a nice presence there, and until the airports feel like they're 100%, you know, in a posture where they can do no normal operations.”

— Tom Homan, Former Acting ICE Director

“If less TSA agents come back, that means we'll keep more ICE agents there. The president has been clear. He wants to secure those airports, especially, as I said earlier, in an increased threat posture, we need to secure those airports. ICE is there to help our brothers and sisters in TSA. We'll be there as long as they need us, until they get back to normal operations and feel like those airports are secure.”

— Tom Homan, Former Acting ICE Director

What’s next

The House and Senate must reconcile their competing DHS funding bills to end the partial government shutdown and determine the future role of ICE at airports.

The takeaway

The continued presence of ICE agents at airports during the DHS funding lapse underscores the broader political tensions over immigration enforcement and border security that have contributed to the government shutdown, with both parties unwilling to compromise on their priorities.