‘The president’s personal police force’: Gavin Newsom calls out Trump vastly expanding ICE powers with TSA replacement

It’s rarely a good sign for a nation when an autocratic leader gains access to a private police force that answers only to them. Such is the current situation with Donald Trump and ICE, who have morphed from enforcing immigration laws into an all-but-unaccountable gang of thugs the president can deploy as he sees fit.

For example, key Trump allies have teased uniformed and masked ICE agents being present at polling stations during the November midterms. The official story is that they’re there to stop immigrants voting, but the actual reason is straightforward intimidation of voters.

Now, as of today, ICE agents are deployed to airports to replace TSA staff affected by the ongoing government shutdown. ICE agents aren’t trained in this (frankly, they’re barely trained in the job they’re supposed to be doing) and now, as per an edict from Trump, they’re running airport security.

“I have no idea what we’re doing.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called this out for what it is:

By sending ICE into airports, Trump is proving the problem in real time: ICE has become the president’s lawless, under-trained, personal police force, deployed to serve his agenda — not the law. https://t.co/GApAjroeuN

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 22, 2026

“By sending ICE into airports, Trump is proving the problem in real time: ICE has become the president’s lawless, under-trained, personal police force, deployed to serve his agenda — not the law.”

It’s worth underlining that even ICE doesn’t seem to want to do this job. ICE officials were left bewildered when Trump suddenly sprang this new responsibility on them, with anonymous DHS sources telling CBS News: “I have no idea what we’re doing.”

ICE terror squads in plain clothes arresting and separating families who have already gone through security in SFO airport. Expect this at voting stations in November.

Not having a tourism or airline industry during another disastrous war will definitely improve the economy.… pic.twitter.com/lvzNLIa02k

— Greg Stoker (@gregjstoker) March 23, 2026

Others underlined that ICE agents simply do not know how to use the X-Ray machines needed to screen bags, meaning they’re more likely to increase rather than decrease waiting times. And then there’s the uncomfortable fact that, as temporary TSA agents, these ICE goons now have the power to physically grope anyone they want to.

So, if you’re heading through an airport and realize ICE is waiting for you, it may be prudent to consider if this journey is absolutely strictly necessary.