President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he is able to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers to U.S. airports beginning Monday if Democrats don’t comply with a funding bundle to finish the Division of Homeland Safety shutdown.
“I stay up for shifting ICE in on Monday, and have already advised them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” the president wrote in a submit to his social media platform.
In an earlier social media submit on Saturday, Trump wrote that until Democrats “instantly signal an settlement” he’ll transfer to deploy ICE brokers into American airports and conduct safety enforcement “like nobody has ever seen earlier than.”
Trump stated that operations would embrace immigration enforcement. It is at present unclear what safety roles, precisely, ICE brokers will tackle in airports.
The White Home referred ABC Information again to the president’s submit when requested what capability People can anticipate to see ICE working in at airports.
Trump’s statements come after Democrats on Friday blocked legislation to reopen DHS for the fifth time for the reason that partial shutdown started in mid-February.
Democrats have demanded modifications to coverage surrounding ICE and Customs and Border Safety in change for votes to fund the entire division. Republicans, in the meantime, have rejected Democratic efforts to fund different companies in DHS just like the Coast Guard, Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA).
US President Donald Trump boards Air Power One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as he departs for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, the place he’ll spend the weekend, March 20, 2026
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Hundreds of TSA staff have now missed their first full paychecks, and vacationers are dealing with lengthy strains at airports across the nation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, throughout an look on Fox Information earlier Saturday, known as on Democrats to barter with Republicans.
“I simply want they’d cease utilizing the American folks as leverage. Make them undergo ache so Democrats can get what they need legislatively,” Duffy stated.
On Capitol Hill, in a uncommon Saturday morning press convention, Senate Majority Chief John Thune additionally urged Democrats to comply with a funding deal.
“Sooner or later, the Democrats are going to must take sure for a solution. I do know they assume that is politically good for them. It’s not,” Thune, R-S.D., stated.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers met behind closed doorways with White Home border czar Tom Homan all through the week. The newest assembly concluded late Friday evening.
“We have to get the federal government open and we’ll preserve speaking till it has,” Homan advised ABC Information after the assembly.
Air vacationers endure lengthy strains and two-hour wait occasions on the TSA safety test level at Terminal E on the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, on March 20, 2026, in Houston.
Michael Wyke/AP
Thune stated he believed that assembly was “productive” and confirmed that the Trump administration added to its supply on DHS funding and submitted legislative textual content, although lawmakers haven’t publicly mentioned what the brand new supply from the White Home entails.
Thune stated he hopes further conferences happen over the weekend.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, in speech on the Senate flooring on Saturday, urged Republicans to assist a Democratic effort to fund TSA whereas different negotiations proceed.
“It’s unacceptable for employees and vacationers and whole airports to get taken hostage in political video games, however that is what the Republicans are doing,” Schumer, D-N.Y., stated.
“It’s unacceptable to say we are going to solely pay TSA employees whether it is connected to a invoice that funds ICE with no reforms, however that is what the Republicans have been doing. Democrats need to pay TSA employees ASAP, with no strings connected,” Schumer added.
Schumer stated Democrats are “having productive conversations on reforming ICE and CBP” however that the method is “ongoing.”
“However we should fund TSA now. Allow us to preserve negotiating the excellent points with ICE, however allow us to begin sending paychecks to TSA employees now. Allow us to finish the lengthy strains on the airport now,” Schumer stated.
ABC Information’ Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.
