Trump has deployed ICE agents to the nation's airports. What's their role? - NPR

NPR
March 26, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

The Trump administration has deployed ICE agents to U.S. airports to identify and apprehend individuals in the country illegally.

How This Affects You

Travelers may experience increased immigration screening at airports and security checkpoints, potentially facing longer delays and more visible federal enforcement.

AI Summary

The Trump administration has deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to U.S. airports as part of its immigration enforcement strategy. ICE agents are tasked with identifying and apprehending individuals who may be in the country illegally or have deportation orders, operating at security checkpoints and other airport locations. This deployment reflects the administration's stated priority of stepped-up immigration enforcement at major transit hubs where large numbers of travelers pass through daily. The move signals an expansion of ICE operations beyond traditional workplace raids and street enforcement, bringing increased immigration screening to civilian air travel. Travelers and airport operators are likely to see more visible federal immigration enforcement in terminals and security areas nationwide.

Source Coverage Map

22 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

51% coverage
Did Not Cover (21)
ICIJ97AP Top News96Bellingcat95Reuters World95Center for Public Integrity93+16 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners - AP News
Government Transparency

Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxPN21CRTVyRmVWajhQVTZQUE5Sb2FGZzZCVHg5cUJZZ09TYkNzOHhLYnMxWTB0R2F6NTBScGEyS1ltam4zWjVDcXAwV1g3TzVWVmpMOVBFM08xZGpRTlNzRlZpZFI5VlFiRC1mN3VsMmowaFB1anFFSmtuNlFfSkpERTVubWl1V1plZ0JIRC1KQmFmNnAzQUd5clpVQWxFV3RsUDRfMExJR2ctZw?oc=5" target="_blank">Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travels and screeners</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 22
2 former FBI agents say they were fired over their roles in Trump 2020 election probe
Government Transparency

2 former FBI agents say they were fired over their roles in Trump 2020 election probe

Two agents fired from the FBI last year said in a federal lawsuit Thursday that they were terminated "solely" because of their participation in an investigation into President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

PBS NewsHourMar 20
Two former FBI agents who investigated Trump sue over firings
Politics

Two former FBI agents who investigated Trump sue over firings

Two former FBI agents are suing after they say they were fired “solely” based on their work on the criminal investigations into President Trump. The two Washington Field Office agents, who are unnamed in the suit, say they were assigned to the Arctic Frost investigation by their superiors, like they had been with many other…

The HillMar 20
Trump news at a glance: president tries to stop chaos at airports
Politics

Trump news at a glance: president tries to stop chaos at airports

<p>Donald Trump said he will take executive action to pay 50,000 airport security workers as a deal stalled in Congress to address staff shortages – key US politics stories from 26 March 2026</p><p>Donald Trump said on Thursday he will take executive action to pay 50,000 airport security workers as a deal stalled in Congress to address staff shortages that have snarled travel around the country.</p><p>The US president said he was instructing the Homeland Security Department “to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports. It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/27/trump-news-latest-updates-today">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsMar 27
Former Justice Department workers accuse Trump of degrading department
Politics

Former Justice Department workers accuse Trump of degrading department

Since President Trump took office for a second time, the Justice Department has undergone significant changes. Former DOJ litigator Stacey Young, founder and executive director of Justice Connection, joins "The Takeout" to discuss her organization's efforts to reform the Department.

CBS NewsMar 26
Spiking gas prices tied to Iran war are set to eat up tax refunds touted by Trump - AP News
Politics

Spiking gas prices tied to Iran war are set to eat up tax refunds touted by Trump - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxObFRXbllNSWtad1FzcEtFdVNRMzIwWW9DMzJxSnBMWkRUbjBjUGVhRG43VE9fUzlYNnRySVBKbDIyU1JsdVFCWTRXOEhsRmg5T2ZYR3FGV1UteDVCclo0UU5ZdmZBc1ZHQkpTcFNjUEpTNURJY2FzXy1xOUhsZUQxa2Q0WGdQc19YcEgwOWhoVW1oQQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Spiking gas prices tied to Iran war are set to eat up tax refunds touted by Trump</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 22
Read Next
Trump administration to face questions about seizure of Fulton County ballots
Politics

Trump administration to face questions about seizure of Fulton County ballots

Trump administration attorneys will face serious questions for the first time on Friday about the seizure of 2020 election records from a Fulton County election site.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources