President Donald Trump’s immigration operation in Minneapolis was labeled a “complete disaster.” Now, after unveiling his new plan to deploy immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agents to airports nationwide, Trump is facing heavy criticism, especially from Black folks on social media.
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“So let me get this right: instead of just paying the TSA, we’re going to have ICE agents who aren’t trained for airport security checking our bags,” @Ezmalay1z said on X, adding, “Spring break travel is about to be a literal movie.”
Trump announced the ICE deployment in a March 22 post on Truth Social, writing, “On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job.”
But given ICE’s recent history in U.S. cities like Minneapolis, many fear their presence will only encourage violence.
@DefaultReece asked, “Wtf are ICE agents gonna do at the airport? Shoot people?” We previously told you the Department of Homeland Security– under former Secretary Kristi Noem– came under fire after ICE agents were sent to Minneapolis. Following the shooting deaths of two Americans, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, at the hands of ICE agents, Trump was forced to pull out of the operation.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed ICE agents arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport– also known as the busiest airport in the world– on Monday (March 23). He wrote in a statement, “Federal officials have indicated that this deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities.”
While it seems Dickens is prepared to fully comply with the federal ICE operations, many folks online feared the agency’s presence would make an already chaotic airport experience more confusing.
“Them UNDERTRAINED ICE agents being sent to airports to ‘help witn TSA,’ especially ATL airport is going to end badly. Mark my words,” @_melanynmonroe predicted.
As ICE agents touch down in ATL, the DHS government shutdown enters its sixth week. During this time, hundreds of TSA workers across the country have been without a paycheck while ICE agents continue to be paid. Folks online quickly noticed the double standard in funding.
“How is there money for ICE to run TSA, but not money for TSA to run TSA?” @destineybleu asked.
The sentiment was echoed across the platform as others chimed in that the decision to send in ICE makes no sense.
“Paying ICE to come to the Atlanta airport, which includes housing them, instead of just paying the TSA employees is actually another reason why this is a very unserious place,” @KryssyLaReina said.
“Apart of me feels like this was apart of his plan the whole time,” @iluvvap wrote. “Jst doing s**t. Smh.”
While TSA and ICE are both run by DHS, border czar Tom Homan told CNN that ICE agents share practically none of the same training as TSA workers. “I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in that,” he said. “There are certain parts of security that TSA is doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs, help move those lines.”
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