Trump says ICE is ‘rehabbing a fake image’ by helping travelers at airports
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Wednesday, March 25, praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for stepping in at airports during long security delays, saying their work is helping change public perception.
The remarks come as airport wait times remain high amid a funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security, leaving thousands of workers without pay.
I am so proud of our ICE Patriots! They were unfairly maligned by the Lunatic Democrats for years, and now, at the Airports, in addition to what they are supposed to be doing, they are helping people with bags, even picking up and cleaning areas. They are so proud to be there!…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts from Truth Social (@DonaldTrumpNat) March 25, 2026
Trump says ICE is ‘rehabbing a fake image’ at airports
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said ICE officers are going beyond their usual duties to help travelers.
“I am so proud of our ICE Patriots!” he wrote. “They were unfairly maligned by the Lunatic Democrats for years, and now, at the Airports… they are helping people with bags, even picking up and cleaning areas.”
He added that officers are “rehabbing a fake image given to them by Radical Left Democrat politicians,” arguing that the public response has been positive.
“The Public is loving ICE,” Trump said, adding that the officers are “Great American Patriots.”
ICE steps in as TSA workers face unpaid shifts
ICE officers began assisting airport operations earlier this week, supporting the Transportation Security Administration as staffing shortages and unpaid work continue to strain the system.
Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers that ICE officers are helping with “queue management,” staffing exit lanes, and guiding passengers through security processes.
“It takes a while to really get folks embedded into our operations and it’s gone extremely well,” McNeill said, adding that feedback from both passengers and field leadership has been “very positive.”
Despite the added support, most TSA workers are still reporting to duty without pay, as they are considered essential personnel.
Airport wait times remain long despite added help
Even with ICE officers assisting, long lines continue at major airports.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, wait times on Wednesday stretched to about 45 minutes at one checkpoint and up to two hours at another. A day earlier, some lines had reportedly reached four hours.
The delays reflect the ongoing pressure on airport systems as staffing challenges persist.
Union pushes back, calls move a ‘distraction’
Not everyone is convinced the added support is solving the real issue.\
Johnny Jones, a union leader representing TSA workers, criticized the move, arguing it distracts from the core problem.
“Look, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what ICE is doing up there. They just need to pay the [TSA] employees,” he said.
“This is a straight-up distraction to the real story of TSA officers going to work without being paid,” Jones added. “The ICE officers are being paid. This is kind of like an insult to the employees.”
The DHS shutdown, which began on February 14, has been tied to political disagreements over immigration enforcement policies.
