Portland Airport Unaware of Potential ICE Involvement in Security

President Trump says he will order ICE agents to assist with airport security starting Monday, but PDX officials say they haven't received any communication about it.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:49am

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President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will order federal immigration officers, including ICE agents, to take on a role in airport security starting Monday unless Democrats agree on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. However, a spokesperson for Portland International Airport (PDX) says they have not received any direct communication from federal partners about this proposal and don't have enough information to comment on potential impacts.

Why it matters

The potential involvement of ICE agents in airport security operations raises concerns about the politicization of airport operations and the potential for immigration enforcement actions to disrupt travel. PDX's lack of communication from federal partners also highlights the uncertainty around the implementation of such a policy change.

The details

According to the report, President Trump made the announcement as a partial government shutdown contributes to long security lines at some of the nation's largest airports. The Republican president said ICE agents would bring the administration's immigration crackdown into the nation's airports, promising to arrest 'all Illegal Immigrants.' However, a spokesperson for PDX said the airport has 'not received any direct communication from federal partners on this proposal' and doesn't have enough information to comment on potential impacts.

  • On Saturday, March 22, 2026, President Trump announced he will order ICE agents to assist with airport security starting Monday, March 24, 2026.

The players

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced the plan to have ICE agents assist with airport security.

Maggie McEvoy

A spokesperson for the Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport (PDX).

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What they’re saying

“We have not received any direct communication from federal partners on this proposal. At this time, we don't have enough information to provide insight on potential impacts.”

— Maggie McEvoy, Spokesperson, Port of Portland

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether President Trump will follow through on his threat to deploy ICE agents to assist with airport security, and how airports like PDX will respond if such a directive is issued.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the potential for political tensions to disrupt the normal operations of critical transportation infrastructure like airports. It also underscores the importance of clear communication and coordination between federal, state, and local authorities when it comes to airport security policies.