U.S. president Donald Trump has ordered immigration agents to be sent to airports starting Monday, March 23rd, aiming to reduce growing congestion at security checkpoints amid a funding crisis.
Trump announced the extraordinary move in a social media post on Sunday morning, prompting officials to quickly develop an implementation plan. Tom Homan, the president’s senior border aide, told CNN that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would be reassigned from their usual duties to airports starting Monday.
The decision follows a funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since February 14, which has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff working without pay for weeks. Staff shortages and rising absences have led to long wait times at airports nationwide.
Officials said ICE agents will assist in general security roles, such as monitoring exits and supporting operations, but will not perform specialised screening tasks like operating X-ray machines.
The funding standoff stems from a political dispute in Washington, where Democratic lawmakers are demanding reforms to ICE following the administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the situation could worsen, increasing pressure on Congress to reach a deal.
Despite the shutdown, ICE operations have continued using previously approved funds, highlighting the uneven impact of deadlock in Washington across agencies.
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