ICE agents at JFK airport.
Photo by Dean Moses
Wednesday marked the third straight day ICE agents were deployed to New York airports as politicians demand their removal and onlookers have repeatedly asked, in essence, “What are they doing?”
Over one million people saw a special amNewYork video report on Instagram Monday showing ICE agents fleeing from photographers as they attempted to hide their faces. The outrage poured into amNewYork’s comment section.
“It’s the reason they’re running. They’re embarrassed about betraying their fellow Americans for money,” amNewYork viewer Andres Rochin wrote.
“They are not doing a f$$king thing but wasting taxpayer money,” Toya B wrote.
“They are getting paid to walk around, pretending they’re on the phone while they’re supposed to be securing the area, as they hide their faces,” Alanna Cohen added.
Sources inside 26 Federal Plaza and 290 Broadway, where ICE agents have been stalking the halls for nearly a year now, say that they have been absent from both courthouses for the past three days, since the agency was deployed to the airports.
This came as President Trump said Tuesday that he personally requested that ICE agents be unmasked while deployed at U.S airports.
“I am a big believer that they should be able to wear masks when they go and hunt down murderers, criminals, and others, but for purposes of the airport, I’ve requested that they take off the masks. I don’t like it for the airport,” Trump said.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with a federal agent and airport employee assist a traveler after falling on an escalator at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 25, 2026.REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton 
ICE agents at JFK airport.Photo by Dean Moses
Demands for removal from airports
While fury over the ICE deployment was swift, it only became more intense. Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement condemning immigration enforcement officers inside of JFK and LaGuardia airports.
“ICE doesn’t belong at our airports. Our Office of Immigrant Affairs has updated guidance, and you can call their legal hotline at 800-354-0365,” Mamdani wrote.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, who has vocally condemned ICE detainments in immigration court and has put forth several pieces of legislation to remove them from courthouses, also told amNewYork that he has introduced an amendment to ban them from airports as well.
The law prohibits funds from the bill, or from Public Law 119–21 from being used to deploy ICE or CBP agents to airports to assist the TSA or to carry out the functions of the TSA.
“Rather than take the Democrats’ offer to fund TSA, Trump is prolonging his shutdown so that he can deploy his secret immigration police at our airports. Not surprisingly, we have already seen evidence of ICE agents harassing and terrorizing passengers in those airports,” Goldman said. “This must end, which is why I have introduced an amendment to prohibit ICE agents from prowling around our airports, terrifying passengers. We must get ICE out of our airports.”
While heavy lines seemed to have subsided throughout the day on Monday, those preparing to board their flights said they were not thankful that ICE has been stationed in the airport.Photo by Dean Moses
Meanwhile, MoveOn Civic Action, a nonprofit, created a petition for individuals to sign, demanding that ICE be removed from airports.
“The shutdown is causing a crisis at our airports – but ICE agents aren’t the answer,” the petition stated. “We need every single elected official to be working tirelessly to end the shutdown, pass a budget that puts our families and communities first, and bring federal employees back to work NOW.”