Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers are educated and might help with airport safety, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that ICE would be sent to airports beginning Monday.
Duffy added that sending in ICE takes away potential leverage for Democrats.
“Democrats need to see lengthy strains at airports as leverage,” Duffy instructed ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “President Trump’s making an attempt to take that leverage away and never make the American individuals undergo.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on March 22, 2026.
ABC Information
Democrats blocked funding for DHS to push for coverage reforms to ICE, together with requiring brokers to not put on face masks, put on physique cameras and have warrants signed by a choose earlier than coming into a house or enterprise. Republicans have thus far rejected those proposals.
However ICE has remained funded via appropriations from the Trump’s tax and spending invoice handed final summer season, whereas key DHS businesses like TSA, the Federal Emergency Administration Company and the Coast Guard are left unfunded.
Duffy blamed Democrats for the hours-long safety line waits at airports, saying Trump has already made coverage concessions.
Some TSA officers have begun calling in sick or quitting as they missed their first paycheck because the shutdown started. DHS stated that greater than 400 TSA officers have stop thus far.
Karl pressed Duffy on the logistics of Trump’s plan for ICE brokers.
“Is there a plan in place? I imply, what number of ICE brokers are we speaking about? Have they got any sensible expertise in manning airport safety strains?,” Karl requested.
“Positive. Effectively, you — they run those self same sort of safety machines on the southern border, proper? Packages come via or individuals come via. They run related belongings,” Duffy stated. “To handle the via stream of individuals and even administratively they’re going to be useful. However once more, now we have ICE brokers who’re educated and might present help to brokers.”
Folks wait in a TSA line on the John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in New York.
Yuki Iwamura/AP
It’s unclear what number of ICE brokers could be despatched to airports or which airports they are going to be despatched to.
Duffy stated that ICE does have correct safety coaching, however may additionally assist by simply managing strains. It’s unclear what number of ICE brokers could be despatched to airports or which airports they are going to be despatched to.
The president’s announcement comes as Duffy has stated repeatedly that he expects the chaos and delays at U.S. airports to worsen amid the busy spring break journey season due to the continuing shutdown of the Division of Homeland Safety.
“I believe you are going to see extra TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) brokers as we come to Thursday, Friday, Saturday of subsequent week, they will stop, or they don’t seem to be going to point out up,” Duffy stated. “I do assume it should get a lot worse, and because it will get worse, I believe that places stress on the Congress to return to a decision.”
Air journey is going through challenges from a number of fronts this month because the U.S. struggle with Iran has led to a near-total closure of the important Strait of Hormuz, sending the value of oil surging worldwide. Increased oil prices has led to a better price of jet gas, and main U.S. airways are already warning of upper prices.
United Airways CEO Scott Kirby instructed staff the airline was planning for oil to succeed in $175 per barrel. Oil is at present nearing $100 per barrel. Duffy stated regardless of the rising price, main airline carriers instructed him they’ve sufficient jet gas provide.
“I believe airways do properly after they plan for the worst and hope for the very best. That is what I believe is going on there,” Duffy stated.
As for a timeline, Duffy maintained the administration’s statements that the struggle would final 4 to 6 weeks and that the Pentagon has “anticipated all that is occurring.”
“I believe you are going to see that is short-lived,” Duffy stated. “When the strait opens up, you are going to see a bit little bit of a lag as these carriers get to their locations, however I believe you are going to see a really fast rebound in vitality costs when this battle is resolved.”
