President Donald Trump said on March 23 that ICE agents deployed at U.S. airports have authority to arrest “illegal migrants,” highlighting enforcement activity during a partial government shutdown. The remarks, carried via Fox News, came amid TSA staffing shortages and ongoing government shutdown disruptions. He said travelers could see ICE arresting undocumented immigrants at airports. The administration deployed up to 150 ICE officers to major airports, where they have mainly observed and assisted by monitoring terminals rather than screening passengers; wait times have not significantly improved. Since February 14, nearly 50,000 TSA officers have worked without pay, with more than 400 resignations and call-outs peaking at nearly 12% on Sunday.
