Trump Threatens to Deploy ICE Agents to Airports Amid Homeland Security Shutdown

Washington D.C. Amid the ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security operations, US President Donald Trump has warned that he will deploy immigration officers to the nation's airports. He stated via social media that he has already instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to be ready to be sent to airports starting Monday.

This warning comes in the context of the partial government shutdown, now in its fifth week, which has affected agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. Due to the lack of a budget agreement, thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, in particular, have had to work without pay, leading many employees to take sick leave or resign. This has exacerbated the problem of long lines and delays at US airports.

Trump blamed Democrats for this situation, stating that if an agreement is not reached soon, immigration agents will be deployed for airport security. He claimed these agents would provide a level of security never seen before. He also signaled that he might issue directives to immediately arrest undocumented immigrants residing in the country, specifically targeting individuals from Somalia.

However, this proposal is facing sharp criticism. Critics argue that ICE agents are not trained for airport security screening and that such a move could be legally and humanely controversial. Meanwhile, although negotiations are ongoing between Congress and the White House to resolve the crisis caused by the shutdown, no concrete agreement has yet been reached. Amid growing disorder and security concerns at airports, Trump's warning has created further tension in American politics and security arrangements.