ICE to Deploy to Airports, Border Czar Confirms

Plans underway to send immigration agents to U.S. airports to ease long security lines

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:35pm

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Tom Homan, President Trump's chief border official, confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be deployed to U.S. airports on Monday to help support Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff and ease long security lines during a busy travel season. The move comes as a partial government shutdown has led to thousands of TSA workers going without pay.

Why it matters

The deployment of ICE agents to airports is seen as a politically-charged move by the Trump administration, with Democrats criticizing the plan as potentially leading to the "brutalization or killing" of American travelers. The move also raises questions about the appropriate roles and responsibilities of different federal agencies at airports.

The details

According to Homan, ICE agents will help TSA staff by covering exits and other areas, freeing up TSA agents to focus on security screenings and other core functions. Homan said the agency is still working out details like how many agents to deploy and where to prioritize, but the goal is to help move passengers through airports more quickly. However, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries criticized the plan, saying the "last thing the American people need is for untrained ICE agents" to be deployed at airports.

  • ICE agents will be deployed to U.S. airports starting on Monday, March 23, 2026.

The players

Tom Homan

President Trump's chief border official and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Hakeem Jeffries

Democratic Congressman from New York and House minority leader, who criticized the plan to deploy ICE agents to airports.

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What they’re saying

“It's a work in progress, but we will be at airports tomorrow, helping T.S.A. move those lines along.”

— Tom Homan, President Trump's chief border official

“The last thing the American people need is for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports across the country potentially to brutalize or to kill them.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Congressman, House minority leader

What’s next

Administration officials are still finalizing details on the ICE deployment, including how many agents will be sent and to which airports. More concrete plans are expected to be announced later on Monday.

The takeaway

The plan to send ICE agents to airports is a politically-charged move that raises concerns about the appropriate roles of different federal agencies at airports, as well as the potential for escalation or abuse. The deployment comes amid a partial government shutdown that has strained TSA staffing, underscoring the complex challenges facing the travel system.