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Travelers are still listening to President Donald Trump’s decision to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports across the country on Monday as Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) workers struggle to continue operating during the government shutdown that is nearing the 40-day mark.
Some travelers blasted the idea, fearing that the training received by ICE agents would not translate to airport security.
“I think it’s funny,” one onlooker told Fox News Digital. “First, they’re not trained for screening. Second, the last thing we need in airports is armed people.”
Some believe that a solution is better than nothing.
SCHUMER GAMBIT FAILS AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS 36 DAYS AND AIRPORT LINES GROW
President Donald Trump announced plans to have ICE at airports in an effort to ease ongoing travel chaos caused by the DHS shutdown. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I’m a traveler — anything that helps people get through airports and have a good experience and keeps us safe is good,” the second person said.
Like all other agencies that work under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), funding for the TSA ended on February 14 due to demands led by the Democratic Alliance to reform ICE – the agency at the heart of Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
After two deadly incidents with protesters, Democrats have put their support for DHS funding in the fight against a number of surveillance measures. Those include a ban on masks for ICE agents, stricter warrant requirements for arresting suspects in public and a ban on patrolling patrols, among other changes.
TRUMP WANTS TO ‘SAVE AMERICA’S LAW’ TIED WITH DHS FUNDING AMID CITY AIRPORTS
ICE agents arrive at JFK Airport in New York City, NY, on March 23, 2026. The agents were brought in to assist TSA agents during a staffing shortage due to the government shutdown. (David Dee Delgado of Fox News Digital)
Republicans rejected these demands, saying they would handcuff President Donald Trump. Republicans need at least seven Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold to break the filibuster in the Senate, where they hold just 53 seats.
As the dispute reaches the 40-day mark, the TSA has worked hard to continue operating while paying costs. According to DHS, more than 366 TSA officers have left the force.
“Transportation Security Officers and other Transportation Management roles critical to national security at our nation’s airports are going unpaid for the third time in nearly six months,” DHS said in a statement.
“As a result of this DHS shutdown, Americans are waiting hours at airports across the country. Democrats must reopen DHS now.”
TSA agents missed their first full payment on March 13.
Some travelers have warned that the public may not get a good look at ICE at airports because of their role in Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
TRAINING AGENTS WHO WEAR MASKS START BASHING OUR AIRPORTS; TRUMP WANTS NATIONAL GUARD
ICE agents arrive at JFK Airport in New York City, NY, Monday, March 23, 2026. The agents were brought in to assist TSA agents amid staffing shortages due to the government shutdown. (David Dee Delgado of Fox News)
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“I don’t think it’s a good idea just because of the optics,” said one traveler.
“I think ICE agents – what’s happened has destroyed their image in communities all over the United States, so I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think it’s going to make people nervous. They might come here to do really good things, but they’ve already put that name out there, and I think that’s going to stick with them and people won’t trust them.”
