President Donald Trump warned he could deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to U.S. airports if Democrats refuse to sign off on new enforcement measures, as a prolonged government shutdown strains airport security.
"If the Radical Left Democrats don’t immediately sign an agreement to let our Country … be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He said ICE would handle security "like no one has ever seen before," including the "immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country."
The warning comes as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown — now more than a month long — has left about 50,000 TSA officers working without pay, fueling staffing shortages and long security lines at airports nationwide.
Because TSA workers are considered essential, they must continue reporting to work despite missing paychecks, leading to increased absenteeism and mounting concerns about security gaps.
Travelers have reported hourslong delays at major airports, while some TSA agents have quit or sought second jobs to make ends meet during the funding lapse.
Trump also pointed to Minnesota in his post, accusing Democrat leaders and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., of supporting policies he said have harmed the state.
"I look forward to seeing ICE in action at our Airports," Trump added.
The standoff in Washington centers on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, with lawmakers deadlocked over immigration enforcement as the shutdown’s impact spreads to critical infrastructure like air travel.
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