Original Source
Trump Orders ICE Agents to Airports Amid DHS Shutdown
ICE Agents to be Deployed to Address Airport Security Gaps
President Donald Trump stated that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents would be dispatched to U.S. airports starting Monday. This measure aims to assist TSA (Transportation Security Administration) officers, who have been working without pay for over five weeks due to a partial Homeland Security shutdown. The president indicated via Truth Social that ICE agents would arrest undocumented immigrants at airports, with a particular focus on individuals from Somalia.
Concerns Raised Over Training and Roles
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, told CNN that ICE agents would not operate X-ray machines but could guard exit lanes and check IDs to free up TSA officers. However, concerns were raised regarding the lack of specific TSA training for ICE agents, as TSA officer training and certification typically take four to six months. Former TSA Administrator John Pistole acknowledged that no law mandates specific training requirements for checkpoint screeners, but cautioned that deploying untrained personnel is 'not a good idea,' emphasizing the importance of qualified screeners.
*Source: Axios (2026-03-22)*
