President Donald Trump said Saturday that he plans to deploy federal immigration officers to assist with airport security starting Monday if Congress fails to pass a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

In a series of social media posts, Trump said agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be sent to airports nationwide, signaling a major expansion of immigration enforcement into transportation hubs.

“ICE is ready to go on Monday,” Trump wrote, adding that he had already instructed officers to “get ready.”

The announcement comes as the ongoing DHS shutdown has led to longer wait times at major airports, with security operations strained by staffing and funding shortfalls.

Trump said the deployment would also be used to intensify immigration enforcement, pledging that agents would arrest undocumented immigrants encountered in airports.

The move reflects escalating tensions between the White House and congressional Democrats, who have refused to approve DHS funding without reforms to federal immigration enforcement practices. The dispute follows the fatal shootings of civilians in Minneapolis during recent immigration operations, incidents that have fueled nationwide protests and political backlash.

Democrats have called for measures such as clearer identification for agents, expanded use of body cameras, and stricter legal oversight of enforcement actions.

Trump also indicated that enforcement efforts could target specific immigrant communities, reiterating criticism of Somali immigrants in Minnesota—a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups and lawmakers.

With negotiations stalled, the proposed deployment of ICE agents to airports marks a significant escalation in the administration’s approach to both immigration enforcement and the ongoing funding impasse.