ICE Ends Two-Week Airport Patrol at Southwest Florida International as Enforcement Shifts 'Quieter'

ICE agents who had been deployed to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) since approximately March 23, 2026 departed the facility on April 5, ending roughly two weeks of visible airport presence during peak spring travel season. The deployment had been part of the broader Trump administration enforcement surge that followed Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. The withdrawal from RSW mirrored a broader tactical shift: following the political backlash to Metro Surge — which resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens and drew the largest protests since 2018 — the administration began moving toward less visible, partnership-based enforcement using local law enforcement agencies rather than high-profile federal operations. ICE agents had been stationed at the passenger drop-off and arrivals areas at RSW; airport officials confirmed their departure. DHS officials described the shift as strategic, not a scaling back, as the administration continued pursuing its 92,600-bed detention capacity goal by fall 2026.