Trump says he will order federal immigration officers to help with airport security unless Democrats end shutdown
PBS • • general
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to airports starting Monday unless Democrats agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- The move aims to intensify immigration enforcement at airports amid a partial government shutdown causing long TSA security lines and staffing challenges.
- Democrats oppose funding DHS without reforms following a controversial Minnesota immigration crackdown, demanding better law enforcement identification, a code of conduct, and increased judicial oversight.
- Trump specifically targeted illegal immigrants from Somalia, linking them to unrest in Minnesota and promising ICE would focus on their arrest at airports.
- Despite ongoing bipartisan talks to resolve the shutdown, Senate efforts to fund TSA separately failed, with Senate leaders warning that airport delays and operational problems will worsen without swift
