Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers are educated and might help with airport safety, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that ICE can be despatched to airports beginning Monday.
Duffy added that sending in ICE takes away doable leverage for Democrats.
“Democrats wish to see lengthy strains at airports as leverage,” Duffy informed ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “President Trump’s attempting to take that leverage away and never make the American individuals endure.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on March 22, 2026.
ABC Information
Democrats blocked funding for DHS to push for coverage reforms to ICE, together with requiring brokers to not put on face masks, put on physique cameras and have warrants signed by a choose earlier than getting into a house or enterprise. Republicans have to this point rejected these proposals.
However ICE has remained funded by appropriations from the Trump’s tax and spending invoice handed final summer time, whereas key DHS companies like TSA, the Federal Emergency Administration Company and the Coast Guard are left unfunded.
Duffy blamed Democrats for the hours-long safety line waits at airports, saying Trump has already made coverage concessions.
Some TSA officers have begun calling in sick or quitting as they missed their first paycheck for the reason that shutdown started. DHS mentioned that greater than 400 TSA officers have stop to this point.
Karl pressed Duffy on the logistics of Trump’s plan for ICE brokers.
“Is there a plan in place? I imply, what number of ICE brokers are we speaking about? Have they got any sensible expertise in manning airport safety strains?,” Karl requested.
“Positive. Effectively, you — they run those self same sort of safety machines on the southern border, proper? Packages come by or individuals come by. They run comparable property,” Duffy mentioned. “To handle the by movement of individuals and even administratively they’re going to be useful. However once more, we have now ICE brokers who’re educated and might present help to brokers.”
Folks wait in a TSA line on the John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in New York.
Yuki Iwamura/AP
It’s unclear what number of ICE brokers can be despatched to airports or which airports they are going to be despatched to.
Duffy mentioned that ICE does have correct safety coaching, however may additionally assist by simply managing strains. It’s unclear what number of ICE brokers can be despatched to airports or which airports they are going to be despatched to.
The president’s announcement comes as Duffy has mentioned repeatedly that he expects the chaos and delays at U.S. airports to worsen amid the busy spring break journey season due to the continued shutdown of the Division of Homeland Safety.
“I believe you are going to see extra TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) brokers as we come to Thursday, Friday, Saturday of subsequent week, they will stop, or they don’t seem to be going to point out up,” Duffy mentioned. “I do assume it is going to get a lot worse, and because it will get worse, I believe that places stress on the Congress to return to a decision.”
Air journey is going through challenges from a number of fronts this month because the U.S. conflict with Iran has led to a near-total closure of the essential Strait of Hormuz, sending the worth of oil surging worldwide. Greater oil prices has led to a better value of jet gasoline, and main U.S. airways are already warning of upper prices.
United Airways CEO Scott Kirby informed staff the airline was planning for oil to achieve $175 per barrel. Oil is presently nearing $100 per barrel. Duffy mentioned regardless of the rising value, main airline carriers informed him they’ve sufficient jet gasoline provide.
“I believe airways do properly once they plan for the worst and hope for the perfect. That is what I believe is occurring there,” Duffy mentioned.
As for a timeline, Duffy maintained the administration’s statements that the conflict would final 4 to 6 weeks and that the Pentagon has “anticipated all that is taking place.”
“I believe you are going to see that is short-lived,” Duffy mentioned. “When the strait opens up, you are going to see somewhat little bit of a lag as these carriers get to their locations, however I believe you are going to see a really fast rebound in vitality costs when this battle is resolved.”
