Trump asks ICE to not wear masks while helping TSA at airports

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) -- President Donald Trump asked immigration agents on Monday to not wear masks as they work with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports. He directed ICE over the weekend to help TSA officers, who have been working without pay since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s annual funding lapsed last month. "I am a BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals," Trump said in a social media post that also accused the Biden administration of facilitating illegal immigration. "I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, etc." Democratic senators have blocked legislation that would fund DHS to try to force changes to its immigration agencies. They have proposed financing TSA and other agencies while their negotiations with the White House continue, though. Some of the lawmakers' demands include a ban on immigration officers' use of masks and a requirement for judicial warrants, as opposed to the administrative ones used by agents. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday that nobody trusts ICE, whose exact airport duties are unknown. "ICE agents, who are untrained and have caused problems everywhere they've gone, lurking at our airports - that's asking for trouble," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "And it will certainly make the chaos at the airports worse." The Trump administration has defended ICE's work, which it calls essential for public safety, but has used the agency to apply political pressure. The president said on Saturday that he would send ICE into airports if Democrats didn't reach a deal with him to fund DHS. "If the Radical Left Democrats don't immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Many parts of DHS have continued operating despite the lapse in annual funds. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed last year, has provided money for ICE and Customs and Border Protection. Other agencies, like TSA, are required by law to keep most of their activities going. Many government workers have not received payments, leading some to call out.