Trump Threatens to Deploy ICE Officers to Airports Amid Shutdown

President says immigration agents will take over airport security if Democrats don't end government shutdown

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:48pm

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President Trump announced that he will order federal immigration officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist with airport security starting on Monday, unless Democrats agree to a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Trump suggested the move is part of his administration's immigration crackdown and that ICE agents would focus on arresting undocumented immigrants from Somalia.

Why it matters

The president's threat to deploy ICE officers to airports is a politically charged move that escalates the standoff between the White House and Democrats over border security and immigration enforcement. It could disrupt airport operations and raise concerns about the expanded role of immigration agents in domestic law enforcement.

The details

Trump made the announcement on social media, saying he has "already told them to, 'GET READY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!'" The president criticized Democrats for not allowing "Just and Proper Security" at airports and elsewhere, and accused Somali immigrants of "totally destroying" Minnesota. However, Trump did not provide specifics on how ICE would take on airport security duties, which are currently handled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

  • Trump made the announcement on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • He said ICE officers would be deployed to airports starting on Monday, March 23, 2026.

The players

President Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who is threatening to deploy ICE officers to airports as a political tactic in the ongoing government shutdown.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States.

Democrats

The political party that controls the House of Representatives and is in opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for airport security screening and operations.

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What they’re saying

“I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, 'GET READY. NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!'”

— President Trump

“If the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before.”

— President Trump

What’s next

The White House and congressional Democrats will need to reach a compromise on funding the Department of Homeland Security in order to avoid the deployment of ICE officers to airports. The bipartisan group of senators meeting to discuss the shutdown will need to act quickly to find a solution before Monday.

The takeaway

Trump's threat to send ICE agents to airports is a politically charged move that escalates the ongoing battle between the White House and Democrats over immigration enforcement. It raises concerns about the expanded role of immigration agents in domestic law enforcement and could disrupt airport operations if implemented.