Demonstrators gathered Friday evening at O’Hare International Airport to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have been called to assist with airport security amid a partial federal government shutdown.
ICE agents had been seen at O’Hare since Monday after President Donald Trump directed them to help the Transportation Security Administration’s operations at airports nationwide amid the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.
No ICE agents were seen Friday in Terminal 1, where the couple dozen protesters gathered, or Terminal 2.
“ICE out of O’Hare, ICE out of everywhere,” protesters shouted.
After an hour of standing outside at the departures area, the protesters walked inside Terminal 1, chanting, “ICE out now.” Many travelers and airline workers laughed and took videos of the protesters. One man pointed in protesters’ faces and shouted, “Get out now.”
Once demonstrators returned to their initial staging area outside, Chicago police officers issued a dispersal order for unlawful assembly, which was triggered when the protesters went inside. Police vehicles then blocked access to the Terminal 1 drop off area. No arrests were reported.
Chicago Police officers explain to a small group of protesters that their protest is now unlawful and that they have to leave or face arrest during an emergency rally demanding that Immigrations Customs Enforcement leave O’Hare Airport, Friday, March 27, 2026.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Earlier Friday, Trump signed an executive action that will pay TSA workers, who have gone without pay for weeks since the DHS shutdown began Feb. 14.
The TSA has faced staffing shortages during the shutdown as Democrats and Republicans in Congress quarrel over funding for DHS, which oversees the TSA, ICE and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Democrats have refused to fund DHS without changes to immigration enforcement practices.
The shortage has resulted in long lines for security checkpo
