Spring Break Travel in Oregon Faces Uncertainty as Trump Threatens to Send ICE Agents to Airports

By Lucille McNamara On Mar 23, 2026

Portland International Airport (PDX) | Credit: Quintin Soloviev

A voting stalemate, which has resulted in the resignation of several Transportation Security Administration (TSA), agents, could seriously disrupt the plans of Oregonians flying to spring break holiday destinations.

President Donald Trump is now threatening to post ICE agents inside airports, unless Congress supports legislation requiring funds for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration reforms.

Trump Says ICE Agents Will “Do Security Like No One Has Ever Seen Before”

Taking to Truth Social on Saturday, Trump commented that ICE agents “will do security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of illegal immigrants who have come into our country.”

He made the statement during a partial government shutdown that has left thousands of TSA agents without pay and resulted in staff shortages.

Tidings Insight

During a shutdown, excepted federal workers generally keep working without immediate pay. That is why airport strain can show up first as resignations and higher absences, not an instant checkpoint closure.

In a different post, Trump said he had already instructed ICE agents to “get ready,” to move into airports today (Monday).

Tidings Insight

TSA officers are trained to screen passengers, baggage, and cargo. ICE’s core mission is immigration enforcement, so the agencies do not normally perform the same airport role.

Meanwhile, Oregon TSA does not know whether its agents will be able to meet April rent commitments after not being paid for 36 days.

Democrats’ Proposal That TSA Employees Are Paid During the Government Shutdown Failed

On Saturday, a proposal by Democrats to suspend Senate rules so that salary payments can to be made to TSA employees during the government shutdown failed with members voting along party lines.

Sources reveal that over 400 TSA employees have resigned nationwide since the partial government shutdown began last month.

Tidings Data Snapshot

TSA Staffing Stress at U.S. Airports

400+

TSA officers who quit during the shutdown

10.2%

National TSA absence rate last week

2.5 million

Passengers screened daily on average

Nearly 440

Airports where TSA screening operates

50,000

TSA officers working through the shutdown

4 to 6 months

Typical training before independent screening work

Source: TSA at a Glance / DHS shutdown reporting / Reuters and CBS staffing updates
Dailytidings.com

However, the current situation has yet to impact the Portland International Airport, where a spokesperson told a local television station that the airport has not received any direct communication from the federal government about the arrival of ICE agents.

Of 1,655 ICE Arrests in Oregon, 1,265 People Had No Pending Criminal Charges or Convictions

New federal data show ICE arrests in Oregon reached 1,655 in 2025. This was more than all arrests made during the previous three years combined, while 1,265 of those arrested had no pending criminal charges or convictions.

OPB reported the a late-2025 surge hit the Portland area especially hard – Multnomah County saw about 575 fall apprehensions, or a 600% spike, while Washington County experienced a 2,100% increase with 315 arrests.