Gillibrand Statement On Trump Administration’s Move To Send ICE Agents To U.S. Airports

Gillibrand Statement On Trump Administration's Move To Send ICE Agents To U.S. Airports

Mar 23, 2026

Today, in response to the Trump administration's move to send untrained ICE agents to U.S. airports, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:

"Senate Republicans and the Trump administration created this crisis, and they're making it worse for everyday Americans. Instead of paying our dedicated TSA officers, the White House is now deploying ICE agents to our airports. This is a recipe for disaster. ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security and have demonstrated an inability to de-escalate situations appropriately.

"I am deeply concerned about the impact the lack of preparation from the administration could have for travelers and how there's no clear answer on what powers ICE will have at checkpoints, or if they'll be targeting travelers for immigration enforcement instead of focusing on security.

"Democrats have tried multiple times to pass bills to keep TSA running and fund airport security. Senate Republicans blocked every single bill because they refused to fund TSA without a blank check for ICE. The answer is simple: Republicans need to stop playing politics and work with Democrats to fund TSA and keep our airports safe."

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