Democrats and different observers slam deployment of US immigration brokers to airports as harmful and supply of pressure.
Printed On 23 Mar 2026
Immigration brokers have begun deploying to some airports in the USA as a federal government funding battle has led to lengthy delays and staffing issues at airports throughout the nation.
The Reuters information company reported on Monday that the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) confirmed it has begun deploying a whole lot of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers to help in safety at airports going through important staffing points.
Really useful Tales
record of three objectsfinish of record
Officers instructed Reuters that ICE and Homeland Safety Investigations officers have been being deployed to greater than a dozen airports throughout the nation, together with New York’s John F Kennedy Worldwide Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport.
CNN additionally reported that no less than 4 ICE brokers have been seen at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport in New Jersey outdoors New York.
The deployment comes as congestion has soared at US airport safety screening stations as a consequence of a weeks-long funds standoff over President Donald Trump’s mass deportation drive.
Some DHS funding has lapsed since February 14 as Democratic Social gathering lawmakers demand reforms within the wake of Trump’s deadly immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
One of many DHS businesses whose funding has been reduce is the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), the company liable for airport safety screenings, that means its employees have labored for weeks with out pay.
Many TSA brokers have begun calling out from work, and greater than 300 workers have stop for the reason that shutdown started, in response to DHS.
Chatting with reporters on Monday, Trump mentioned he had requested that ICE brokers deployed to US airports take away their face masks. “I don’t prefer it for the airport, and I consider they’re prepared to try this,” he mentioned.
Tom Homan, the US border safety chief, mentioned on Sunday that ICE brokers would help TSA staff in areas that don’t require particular coaching or experience.
“Whereas adhering to all the safety tips and the protocols, we’re merely there to assist TSA do their jobs in areas that want their specialised experience,” Homan mentioned in an interview on CNN’s State of the Union programme.
“There are roles we will play to launch TSA officers from the nonsignificant roles, resembling guarding an exit, to allow them to get again to the scanning machines and transfer individuals faster.”
However Democrats and different observers have raised severe considerations about the presence of ICE brokers at airports, saying the deployment will gas tensions.
“The very last thing that the American individuals want are for untrained ICE brokers to be deployed at airports all throughout the nation,” Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries instructed CNN on Sunday.
“We’ve already seen how ICE conducts itself. These are untrained people relating to doing the present job that they’ve, for essentially the most half – not to mention deploying them in shut publicity and extremely delicate conditions at airports throughout the nation.”
Even some members of Trump’s personal Republican Social gathering have expressed opposition to the brand new airport safety plan with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski calling it a “unhealthy concept”.
“What we have to do is, we have to get the DHS points resolved. We have to get the TSA brokers paid,” Murkowski instructed reporters on the Capitol in Washington, DC, the place the Senate held a uncommon weekend session. “Do you actually wish to have even extra tensions on high of what we’re already going through?”
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Authorities Workers, which represents greater than 50,000 TSA workers, additionally condemned Trump’s plan.
“Our members at TSA have been exhibiting up each day and not using a paycheck as a result of they consider within the mission of protecting the flying public secure,” Kelley mentioned on Sunday.
“They need to be paid, not changed by untrained, armed brokers who’ve proven how harmful they are often.”
