U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports nationwide.
The threat follows a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security after Democratic lawmakers blocked a funding bill without immigration agent reforms. TSA agents are unpaid, causing long lines at major airports.
“If the Democrats do not allow for just and proper security at our airports … ICE will do the job far better than ever done before,” Trump wrote. He directed ICE agents to “get ready,” signaling possible action as early as Monday.
Trump said ICE could conduct arrests at airports-including targeting undocumented immigrants-and referenced migrants from Somalia.
The move comes amid national scrutiny after two fatal shootings by ICE agents in Minneapolis on February 13, 2026-killing U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good-and intensifying debate over ICE’s domestic enforcement role.