Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Homan said ICE officers would not replace TSA agents but instead fill gaps created by staffing shortages during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
“There’s TSA agents covering exits … certainly a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer could cover an exit,” he said, describing how agents could help free TSA personnel for screening duties.
“I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because you’re not trained in that,” Homan added, emphasizing that officers would stay within their expertise.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would be directing ICE to assist TSA after weeks of delays tied to the funding standoff, which has left many TSA workers unpaid and contributed to long security lines at major airports.
Homan said he is meeting with TSA officials on Sunday to outline a plan to integrate ICE officers into airport security to be enacted the following day. He characterized the plan as a practical measure rather than an expansion of ICE’s core mission.
“We’re simply there to help TSA do their job … in areas that don’t need specialized expertise,” Homan said, adding that ICE officers already have a presence at airports to prevent drug trafficking and enforce immigration policy.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) appeared on the show following Homan and criticized the move, warning that placing ICE officers in crowded airport environments could pose risks to travelers, as there is broader concern about the agency’s conduct.
“The last thing the American people need are untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports … potentially to brutalize or, in some instances, kill them,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries linked the proposal to the current DHS funding deadlock, accusing Republicans of prioritizing immigration enforcement disputes over stabilizing airport operations.
“Republicans have decided that they would rather force TSA agents to work without pay … and now potentially expose them to untrained ICE agents,” he said.
TRUMP SAYS ICE WILL ASSIST TSA AGENTS AT AIRPORTS STARTING MONDAY AMID SHUTDOWN
The standoff has centered on Democrats’ demands for changes to ICE policies, including stricter warrant requirements and use-of-force standards, while Republicans argue existing policies are largely consistent with prior administrations.
With no agreement in sight, travelers are facing TSA wait times of up to two hours, and some airports have had to close security checkpoint lanes as the agency faces severe staffing shortages.
