March 23, 2026

Ranking Members Larsen and Carson Statement on Trump Administration Sending ICE to Airports Instead of Ending Shutdown

Washington, D.C. — Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation André Carson released the following statement regarding reports that the Trump administration sent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to airports across the country.

“Fund TSA. Pay TSA agents. That’s what Democrats and Republicans both want. Unfortunately, the Trump administration refuses to, instead deploying ICE agents to airports,” the Ranking Members said. "This development raises important operational, legal and reputational questions for airports and the administration. Which airports are affected, and what baseline determined them? Is ICE doing work that should be done by TSA? Hardworking TSA agents are working without pay and travelers are waiting in lines for hours because the Trump administration prefers shutting down DHS over implementing common-sense ICE reforms.”

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