Steve Bannon floats ICE airport deployment as 'test run' for election oversight during midterms
Steve Bannon: “We can use this, ICE helping at airports, as a test run, a test case, to really perfect ICE’s involvement in the 2026 midterms.
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 23, 2026
Mike Davis: “I think we should have ICE agents at the polling places”
Saying the quiet part out loud. pic.twitter.com/KardWXYjrq
WASHINGTON, DC: Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon suggested that the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at US airports could serve a broader political purpose beyond their stated role.
His remarks came after President Donald Trump announced that ICE agents would assist at airports during an ongoing government shutdown. The situation has drawn attention due to both the operational issues at airports and the implications Bannon raised.
Airport deployment and Steve Bannon’s 'test run' claim
On Sunday, March 22, Trump announced that ICE agents would be sent to airports across the country to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which has been facing staffing shortages during the partial government shutdown.
TSA employees who continue working have been doing so without pay, and more than 400 officers have reportedly quit since the shutdown began.
Despite the deployment, the presence of ICE agents has not appeared to ease long security lines. Social media posts have shown ICE officers at airports, but it remains unclear what their exact duties are.
On his 'War Room' show on Monday, Bannon discussed the airport deployment with conservative legal activist Mike Davis. Bannon suggested that the use of ICE agents at airports could act as a “test run” or “test case” to refine their role for future use.
He framed the situation as an opportunity to “perfect ICE’s involvement” in the 2026 midterm elections. Davis replied, “Yeah, I think we should have ICE agents at the polling places because if you’re an illegal alien, you can’t vote, right?”
He continued, “It’s against the law. It’s a federal crime for you to vote in federal elections. And so if you are an American citizen, you should be happy that ICE is there because you’re not gonna have illegal aliens canceling out the vote.”
Discussion of possible ICE presence at polling stations sparks election concerns
Amid a series of conflicting statements from the Trump administration, state election officials have raised concerns and are seeking clear assurances from Markwayne Mullin regarding the potential deployment of ICE agents at polling stations if he becomes the next head of the DHS.
During his March 18 confirmation hearing, Mullin stated that he would not rule out the possibility of sending ICE agents to polling locations during the midterm elections.
Earlier, on February 25, during an FBI phone briefing, DHS senior “election integrity” official Heather Honey told state election officials, “Any suggestion that ICE is going to be present at polling places is simply disinformation. There will be no ICE presence at polling locations.”
In response to these conflicting positions, a group of Democratic secretaries of state sent a letter to Mullin on March 9, urging him to formally commit to maintaining that policy. The group has also requested that Mullin provide a written response by April 8.
The letter stated, “As our states’ Chief Election Officials, we ask you to confirm in writing that it is or will be the policy of the DHS that ICE and other immigration enforcement personnel will not have a presence at voting and election administration locations during the 2026 elections.”
The officials further emphasized concerns from the public, writing, “We have heard concerns from many of our constituents about potential voter intimidation that would arise from an armed law enforcement presence at polling locations.”
