The Journal. – "How ICE Went From Deport… to Airport"
Date: March 25, 2026
Hosts: Ryan Knudsen & Jess (Jessica Mendoza)
Special Contributor: Michelle Hackman

Episode Overview

This episode explores how a political funding showdown in Washington led to a dramatic shift in how airport security is managed: with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, normally tasked with deportation, suddenly deployed to help staff America’s airports. The hosts dive into why TSA lines have gotten so bad, the genesis of the plan to send ICE agents, how this reflects deeper political battles over the Department of Homeland Security, and what it signals for both airport security and the future of immigration enforcement in the U.S.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The TSA Crisis: Causes and Chaos

• Nationwide, TSA lines have ballooned, especially at major airports like Atlanta and Houston, due to a funding lapse. Many TSA agents stopped coming to work after going a month without pay.
  • "Waiting in the security line at the airport is never fun, but right now, it's really not fun because the lines these days are out of control." — Ryan Knudsen (00:29)
• The problem stems from Congress failing to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under which TSA operates.
  • "TSA agents who are under DHS haven't gotten paychecks for more than a month and they're starting to walk off the job." — Jess (01:38)

2. Why DHS Is Unfunded: Shutdown Standoff

• A recent congressional showdown saw Democrats hold up DHS funding to force restrictions on ICE’s powers (specifically, stopping ICE from using masks in raids, and requiring judicial warrants for home searches).
  • "Democrats really stood their ground and said, we are not funding the Department of Homeland Security unless this administration agrees to some limits on ICE's power." — Jess (05:44)
• Ongoing tension around ICE’s tactics, especially after officers killed two citizens in Minneapolis, intensified calls for accountability.

3. The Origins of the ICE-in-Airports Plan

• A citizen caller named Linda first floated the idea on a conservative radio show; it quickly gained traction, was amplified on Fox News, and then adopted by Trump.
  • "What we need to do is we need to supplement where we're missing out on TSA agents... We need to bring in ICE agents." — Linda (call-in, paraphrased by Jess, 08:44)
• Trump claimed credit, likening its simplicity to the invention of the paperclip.
  • "182 years ago, a man discovered the paperclip. It was so simple. And everybody that looked at it said, why didn't I think of that? ICE was my idea." — Donald Trump (09:36)

4. ICE’s Surprising Financial Firepower

• Unlike regular DHS funding, ICE was given a separate, multi-year funding stream (the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act")—$170 billion that lasts until 2029.
  • "ICE has been able to continue paying all of its officers even though their normal funding is shut down." — Jess (10:14)
• This means ICE could keep functioning while the rest of DHS, including TSA, ran out of funds.

5. How ICE Agents Felt About Airport Duty

• ICE officers were caught off guard by the president’s announcement and were frustrated:
  • "ICE is an agency with a mission... Suddenly, Trump is taking a lot of agents off their normal jobs and having them do airport security." — Jess (11:16)
  • "ICE agents don't have any training in airport security, right? They're trained to arrest immigrants. They're trained in immigration law." — Jess (11:38)

6. The Reality of ICE at Airports

• ICE agents are not conducting actual passenger screening; they’re mostly running crowd control to free up the remaining TSA agents for security tasks.
  • "Rather than run actual security, they're doing more crowd control... monitoring exits and guiding people to the right lines." — Ryan Knudsen (11:57)
• There is little evidence yet that this move has significantly improved wait times despite White House claims to the contrary.

7. Political Gambits and Legislative Jousting

• Trump framed the move as leverage over Democrats, crowing that it forced them to the negotiating table.
  • "When I announced yesterday about ICE, the Democrats called, we want to settle..." — Donald Trump (14:43)
• Democrats, in turn, believe lengthy TSA lines are hurting Trump politically and give them leverage.
  • “To other Democrats, it actually kind of signaled that Trump was realizing what a political crunch these TSA lines were creating for him.” — Jess (15:14)

8. Congressional Negotiations and the Save America Act

• Lawmakers proposed a deal: fund all of DHS except ICE, whose funding would be handled separately.
• Trump rejected this, tying any deal to his 'Save America Act,' which would require proof of citizenship to vote—a nonstarter with Democrats.
  • "He told Republicans, don't negotiate with Democrats. He also said, I'm not signing this unless it also passes with the Save America act." — Jess (16:22)

9. Funding Workarounds and Political Strategy

• Republicans, after weeks demanding ICE be funded, now tout the wisdom of having already pre-funded ICE.
  • "Suddenly yesterday you had John Thune and others saying we pre funded ICE... and we can actually move ahead without getting them any more money." — Jess (18:36)

10. Future Outlook: Will the Crisis End Soon?

• There is mounting bipartisan pressure to resolve the funding impasse before Congress recesses.
• Even with a deal, TSA staffing woes may linger long after paychecks resume, as many agents have quit or found other jobs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "TSA agents haven't gotten paychecks for more than a month and they're starting to walk off the job." — Jess (01:38)
• "We need to bring in ICE agents." — Linda, call-in radio guest (08:44)
• "ICE was my idea." — Donald Trump (09:36)
• "ICE is an agency with a mission... Suddenly, Trump is taking a lot of agents off their normal jobs and having them do airport security. I mean, that was, like, really, really frustrating for people." — Jess (11:16)
• "ICE has so much money sloshing around from the big beautiful bill that it doesn't really matter to them." — Jess (18:36)
• "If Congress isn't able to reach a deal by Friday, then the airport chaos could continue for another two weeks at least." — Ryan Knudsen (19:37)
• "Even if they can reach a deal… Employees there have now had to go long stretches without paychecks twice in the last year and many have quit." — Ryan Knudsen (20:04)

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | Content | |-------------|----------------|-------------| | TSA Airport Crisis Begins | 00:29 – 02:05 | Scenes at airports, TSA staff shortages explained | | Shutdown Standoff: Why No Funding | 04:50 – 07:37 | History and politics, Democrats' demands on ICE oversight | | Origin of ICE-at-Airports Plan | 08:20 – 09:48 | Call-in show to Trump's adoption of the idea, Trump’s comments | | ICE Finances and Authority | 10:00 – 10:48 | "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" gives ICE special funding | | ICE Reaction & Role at Airports | 10:54 – 12:40 | How ICE agents felt, their roles | | The Political Fallout | 14:30 – 17:31 | Trump & Democrat strategies, the Save America Act | | Congressional Dealings | 17:40 – 19:12 | Funding workarounds, new negotiations | | Airport Crisis Outlook | 19:21 – 21:20 | Prospects for a deal, impact on TSA and ICE going forward |

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a brisk, informative, sometimes incredulous tone—reflecting surprise at the unprecedented use of ICE in airport security and the chaotic interplay of politics and government operations. Direct quotes from Trump bring his trademark flair (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). Jess’s and Ryan’s exchanges feature wit and personal worry about the real-world impact (“I have a flight next week... I’m pretty nervous, too.”).

Useful Takeaways

• An unprecedented funding lapse led to ICE officers managing airport crowds, highlighting the deep connection between political fights in DC and everyday American experiences at airports.
• ICE, designed for deportation, is temporarily repurposed for airport logistic tasks despite agent discomfort and lack of specialized training.
• Political maneuvers and ideological priorities are delaying a funding agreement, as Congress, the President, and both parties' bases jockey for leverage.
• ICE’s unique funding status gives it operational autonomy, complicating efforts to pressure the agency via government shutdowns.
• Even after resolution, traveler disruption could last for weeks due to depleted TSA ranks.

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary captures the essential narrative, key discussions, and thematic through-lines—highlighting how politics disrupted a basic American routine and what it means for the future of both airport security and immigration policy.