Trump Says ICE Agents Should Not Wear Masks at Airports: 'People Coming Into the Airport Typically Speaking Aren't Murderers'

President Donald Trump said Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deployed to U.S. airports should not wear masks while assisting with security operations, arguing the setting does not require the same precautions as enforcement actions.

"I've requested now... that they take off the masks," Trump told reporters before departing Florida. "I don't like it for the airport." He added that while masks may be appropriate when targeting "murderers" and "criminals," "the people coming into the airport, typically speaking, aren't murderers, killers, drug dealers."

The comments came as the administration deployed hundreds of ICE agents to airports nationwide to help manage crowd control during a prolonged funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown, now in its second month, has left Transportation Security Administration workers unpaid, contributing to staffing shortages and long lines at major airports.

On Truth Social, Trump also said he supports ICE agents wearing masks during enforcement operations but would "greatly appreciate... NO MASKS" when assisting at airports.

The use of masks by federal immigration agents has become a national point of contention in recent months. Democratic lawmakers have pushed for limits on the practice, arguing it reduces accountability during public-facing operations. Their demands intensified after two fatal shootings involving immigration agents in Minnesota earlier this year, which drew scrutiny from lawmakers and civil rights advocates.

As part of negotiations to reopen DHS, Democrats have proposed banning masks in most public operations, along with other changes to enforcement practices. Republicans and the White House have resisted those conditions, contributing to the ongoing stalemate.

ICE agents were deployed Monday to more than a dozen airports, including Chicago, Houston, New York and Philadelphia. Officials said their role would focus on support tasks such as managing exits rather than conducting immigration enforcement.

Border czar Tom Homan said the deployment expands existing ICE activity at airports and that discussions with TSA are ongoing about how agents can assist. Reports from several airports indicated ICE personnel were present but not performing specialized screening functions handled by TSA officers.

The administration has not said how long the deployment will last as negotiations over DHS funding continue.