What Next | Daily News and Analysis How ICE Landed At Your Airport
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Mar 24, 2026 Nick Miroff, staff writer for The Atlantic who covers immigration, breaks down DHS turmoil and enforcement tactics. He discusses how the shutdown and TSA attrition affect airport operations. He traces a tactical shift after Minneapolis, profiles enforcement players like Tom Homan, and examines Markwayne Mullin’s combative reputation and Stephen Miller’s influence.
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ICE Airport Push Started As Political Theater
- The ICE airport deployment began as a political threat from President Trump and was later turned into an operational plan announced on cable news.
- Nick Miroff describes ICE sources as relieved and exasperated because agents were asked to do tasks they're not trained for, like crowd control outside terminals.
Shutdown Created Two Tier DHS Workforce
- The DHS shutdown produced a two-tier workforce where ICE agents remained paid while many TSA staff faced furloughs and attrition.
- Nick Miroff links that dynamic to hundreds of TSA quits and longer airport lines, prompting ad-hoc redeployments that won't fix screening bottlenecks.
Minneapolis Shifted DHS From Spectacle To Caution
- Minneapolis killings and the political backlash forced a tactical shift inside DHS from spectacle enforcement to lower-profile tactics.
- Miroff says Tom Homan plays a 'cleanup' role to lower temperature while still pursuing the same mass deportation goals.