WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, as the debate over common-sense safety guardrails for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget funding fight continues, untrained Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents—who are known to escalate violence—will be deployed to airports, where they will further terrorize our communities while evading accountability under the guise of national security. This is the first time a president has sent armed agents into airports, following the administration’s deployment of armed agents in California, Illinois, Minnesota, Maine, Louisiana, North Carolina, and more—with devastating social and economic consequences. Amid rising disapproval of ICE across the political spectrum, the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) firmly rebukes the administration’s reckless decision to send its armed, unqualified, abusive secret police force into fourteen cities.

While the intent to deploy ICE in airports was announced Sunday, officials were working out the details of this major agency shake-up less than twenty-four hours prior, continuing a pattern of knee-jerk policymaking that does nothing but threaten our communities. Instead of advancing real solutions to fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and address rampant misconduct within ICE and DHS, the administration is doubling down on reckless tactics. This latest stunt only underscores why DHS negotiations are so critical, not just in this immediate crisis, but to ensure long-term guardrails that keep our communities safe.

Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “Deploying ICE agents to our airports is not about national security or easing the burden on travelers; it is inflammatory political theater. With its deadliest year on record and ever-rising body count, we have absolutely no faith that ICE agents will be able to carry out the responsibilities of the TSA to keep our communities safe. Instead of engaging in meaningful discussion on reforms, this administration refuses to govern and actively makes our communities less secure. ICE has racially profiled in our city streets, and now they will racially profile in our airports. We continue to call for enforceable standards and accountability for violent misconduct by federal agents and requirements that agents identify themselves and take off their masks. Lest more lives be upended permanently, ICE has absolutely no place in our airports or communities.”

“As of last night, the president rejected a bipartisan bill to fund the TSA and end the government shutdown. Instead, in an astounding lack of leadership, this administration chooses to play political games at the expense of millions of travelers and hardworking TSA agents who have continued to show up, without pay, to manage the undue burden of this self-inflicted, governmental chaos.”

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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of over 70 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 40 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.