U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton says Trump should focus on compromise, not putting ICE agents in airports

PHOENIX — President Donald Trump’s decision to send immigration agents to airports to alleviate staffing shortages within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wasn’t the right move, according to U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona.

The disagreement centers on funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We can get TSA agents paid today if the Republicans in the House and Senate would just agree to fund everything except for ICE so we can leave ICE disagreements for another day,” Stanton told reporters on Monday.

For context, Democrats are refusing to approve full Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding without ICE policy reforms.

Meanwhile, Republicans have been pushing to fully fund the department and the agencies under it on a short-term basis, while Democrats want to fund TSA and other DHS functions, excluding ICE.

“Look, Sen. John Thune, the Republican president of the Senate, went to the White House today to tell the president he should agree to fund TSA right away. He suggested that they deal with ICE funding through a reconciliation process,” Stanton said. “The president refused to go along with the recommendation of the Senate’s top Republican.”

In the meantime, travelers are seeing ICE agents at U.S. airports, including Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, as TSA struggles with staffing shortages.

Another traveler named Ryan has a different take.

“I support ICE 100%,” Ryan added. “I think they’re doing a hell of a job.”

So while he’s not happy to wait in line, he told @ColtonKrolak it’s worth it to keep Americans safe. pic.twitter.com/yUEqafSLaN

— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) March 23, 2026

Travelers this week cited long wait times. Some said they were unhappy to see ICE agents, while others said they were happy with the sight.

Democrats seek to restore DHS funding through petition

Stanton accused Trump of using this situation for political leverage, rather than accepting the agreement and funding TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA, saving the ICE funding for another day.

Since the president isn’t budging, Democrats in Congress are seeking a workaround: a discharge petition in the House that could force a vote on non-ICE DHS funding.

“I have signed that discharge petition. We have seen success in which Republicans have signed some of our discharge petitions,” Stanton said.

Stanton emphasized that his top priority is getting all the other agents in DHS funded.

“We can have these ongoing discussions about ICE. One should not be leveraged off to the other,” he said. “We can do a deal on what we agree upon and then we can move forward on the other things. TSA agents should be paid today.”

“Immediately fund TSA. Immediately fund all the other agencies in the Department of Homeland Security, and we can have these ongoing discussions about ICE. One should not be leveraged off of the other,” @RepGregStanton says. “TSA agents should be paid today.”

🎥: KTAR News… pic.twitter.com/rji9AmrFnu

— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) March 23, 2026

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Balin Overstolz McNair contributed to this report.

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