March 29, 2026 / 3:10 PM EDT / CBS News
Tom Homan said Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue assisting Transportation Security Administration staff at airports “until the airports feel like they are 100%.” Speaking on Face the Nation, Homan said ICE will maintain a strong presence at airports until TSA can resume normal operations.
Congress has not approved funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for more than 40 days. Early Friday, the Senate passed a bill to fund DHS that excluded money for ICE and other immigration removal operations; the House rejected that bill and instead passed its own measure to fund the entire department, including ICE, for 60 days. The competing bills leave the shutdown unresolved.
President Trump announced he would redirect funds to pay TSA agents, who have missed paychecks for over a month. TSA reported about 500 agents quit since the shutdown began. Homan said if fewer TSA agents return, “that means we’ll keep more ICE agents there,” adding that the president wants airports secured amid an increased threat posture and ICE will support TSA “as long as they need us.”
ICE and Customs and Border Protection are operating during the shutdown after receiving funds from Trump’s 2025 omnibus, and Secret Service personnel are also being paid. Other DHS components — including FEMA, CISA and the U.S. Coast Guard — have not been funded, though active-duty Coast Guard members are currently paid with discretionary funds.
ICE and CBP tactics have faced criticism this year following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis in January, when immigration officers killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Homan took control of the Minneapolis operation after the incidents. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem departed amid questions about contracts, and former Sen. Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as her replacement last week.
Democrats have refused to approve a DHS budget that does not include immigration-enforcement reforms. Homan rejected those demands, saying changes have already been made and noting the Senate-passed bill would provide $120 million for body cameras. He also disputed claims that ICE is routinely arresting undocumented immigrants inside hospitals, houses of worship or schools, saying agents try to wait and make arrests in homes or the community rather than in sensitive locations.