Homan insists ICE has a 'well thought out plan' to deploy at airports as TSA lines enrage Americans [View all]

Source: The Independent

Sunday 22 March 2026 11:33 EDT


Trump administration officials tried to explain how a surge of ICE agents to the nation’s airports, due to begin Monday, would alleviate some of the travel pressures Americans have faced in the midst of a Department of Homeland Security shutdown that is now in its second month.

Border Czar Tom Homan said Sunday that ICE agents would assist in airport security while also enforcing the president’s immigration agenda. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, meanwhile, claimed ICE agents were already trained to perform tasks at airports – such as patting down individuals and operating X-ray scanning technology.

The president revealed his plans to deploy ICE agents to airports on Saturday. Despite passengers being hampered by long lines caused by the ongoing TSA shortages, Trump suggested the agents would instead be used to guarantee “security like no one has ever seen before.” The agents, he said, would also carry out “the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.”

When questioned about whether there was coherent plan to help ICE agents fulfil their new duties, Homan seemed to suggest that their job would be more aligned with Trump’s immigration objective, rather than dealing with the problems that have arisen for travelers.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/homan-ice-airports-trump-tsa-b2943402.html