Border Czar Tom Homan announced Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue to secure the nation’s airports until they return to a “100%” posture.
Despite President Trump signing an order to ensure Transportation Security Administration workers receive their pay, Homan made it clear on “Face the Nation” that ICE will remain on-site to bridge any gaps in “normal operations” and ensure travel hubs stay protected.
The ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, now entering its sixth week, stems from a legislative standoff in Washington.
While the Senate passed a bill that stripped funding for ICE and immigration removal, the House rejected that proposal, opting instead for a 60-day extension that fully funds the department—including the agents responsible for border and interior enforcement.
The impasse has left agencies like FEMA and the Coast Guard in budget limbo, though the President has used discretionary measures to keep the Coast Guard and Secret Service paid.
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The need for an ICE presence at airports has been exacerbated by staffing shortages at the TSA, which reported 500 resignations since the funding lapse began. Homan emphasized that the administration’s priority is a firm security posture.
“The president has been clear. He wants to secure those airports,” Homan said. “ICE is there to help our brothers and sisters in TSA. We’ll be there as long as they need us.”
While critics have targeted ICE and CBP following a January operation in Minneapolis, the agencies remain operational due to the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” of 2025.
That funding has allowed the administration to maintain enforcement levels even as other parts of the federal government stall. The leadership transition at DHS also continues, with former Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin sworn in as Secretary last week following Kristi Noem’s departure.
Homan also pushed back against House Democrats who have refused to pass a budget that funds enforcement without sweeping policy changes. He noted that the current House bill actually includes $120 million for body cameras—a frequent demand from the opposition—yet the funding remains blocked.
Addressing concerns about arrests near sensitive locations like schools or churches, Homan clarified that while the administration updated its policies in early 2025 to allow for more flexibility, agents still prioritize community and home arrests to avoid disruptions.
“You can’t point to one instance when we actually went into a church and school because we try very hard to wait for people to leave places,” Homan stated, adding that the agency is simply “enforcing laws [Congress] enacted.”
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