Over 500 TSA Workers Quit, ICE Agents Now Patrol Airports Creating More Chaos
In January, ICE agents shot and killed 2 U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. The public outrage forced major changes at the Department of Homeland Security — including the replacement of director Kristi Noem.
Senate Democrats refused to fund DHS for weeks. The shutdown devastated TSA — more than 500 employees quit and over 3,560 called in sick, representing 12% of the agency’s entire workforce.
President Trump sent ICE agents to airports to fill security gaps. But critics and the TSA union said agents were “just getting in the way” — patrolling halls instead of actually helping operations.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order to pay TSA employees. Meanwhile, the Congress standoff deepened — House Republicans rejected a bipartisan deal. About 50,000 officers expected to get paychecks by Monday.
On Sunday, border czar Tom Homan said ICE agents may remain at airports even after TSA pay resumes. He stated agents would stay until airports feel 100% and normal operations fully return.
Tensions escalated when ICE arrested a woman and her 9-year-old daughter at San Francisco airport after a TSA tip. Local police intervened as crowds grew angry. Both were deported to Guatemala.
