1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to express urgent and profound alarm at the Trump administration’s decision—now actively underway—to deploy ICE agents into airports across the United States, alongside escalating threats to involve the National Guard. This is not a hypothetical concern. It is happening now. As of today, ICE agents have been deployed to major airports nationwide, including some of the busiest travel hubs in the country, under the stated justification of addressing staffing shortages caused by the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding crisis. At the same time, the administration has openly floated the possibility of deploying the National Guard to manage airport operations if the situation continues. This is an extraordinary and dangerous escalation. Let’s be clear about what is unfolding: Tens of thousands of TSA workers have been forced to work without pay for weeks due to a political standoff, leading to mass resignations and absences. Instead of resolving the crisis through governance—by funding the government and paying workers—the administration is substituting in an enforcement agency with no training in aviation security. At the same time, the President is actively urging congressional Republicans not to reach a deal to end the shutdown, prolonging the very crisis being used to justify this escalation. This is not a solution. It is a manufactured crisis being used to expand federal enforcement power into civilian spaces. ICE agents are not trained to conduct airport security screening. They are law enforcement officers tasked with immigration enforcement. Their presence in airports—armed, visible, and operating in unclear roles—creates an immediate risk of: - Racial profiling and discriminatory targeting - Unlawful questioning and detention of travelers - Mission creep from “support roles” into active enforcement - A chilling effect on travel for millions of people We are already seeing confusion, fear, and disruption at airports, with little evidence that this deployment is even addressing the underlying problem of long security lines. Now, with discussions of National Guard deployment, the situation risks escalating even further—from civilian disruption into outright militarization of public space. This should alarm every member of Congress, regardless of party. Airports are not testing grounds for expanded enforcement power. They are essential public infrastructure used by millions of Americans every day. Turning them into spaces defined by immigration enforcement presence—and potentially military involvement—crosses a dangerous line. Congress must act immediately. I urge you to: - Publicly and unequivocally oppose the deployment of ICE agents to airports. - Demand the immediate removal of ICE personnel from all airport operations. - Oppose any use of the National Guard in civilian airport settings. - Call for the immediate resolution of the government shutdown to restore proper staffing and pay for TSA workers. - Demand full transparency and oversight regarding the scope, authority, and actions of ICE in these environments. - Use your platform to clearly warn the public about the risks of this escalation and to push back against it. This is not normal. It must not become normal. Allowing this to continue sets a precedent that will be difficult—if not impossible—to reverse. The expansion of enforcement power into everyday civilian life, under the cover of crisis, is a pattern that demands immediate resistance. I urge you to act with the seriousness and urgency this moment requires.