THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:
During the week of March 22–28, 2026, U.S. border security and immigration were dominated by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding crisis, new enforcement deployments at domestic airports, and landmark legal arguments before the Supreme Court.
Homeland Security Funding Crisis & TSA Strain
TSA Pay Order Issued: President Donald Trump on Friday issued an Executive Order to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. TSA agents have been working without pay for over 40 days, prompting warnings of potential airport shutdowns if their paychecks are not restored.
ICE Deployment to Airports: On Sunday, March 22, 2026, President Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to major U.S. airports to assist with TSA screening delays.
DHS Shutdown Continues: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remained without funding as of late March, following the exhaustion of its budget on February 13, 2026. Congress remains at an impasse despite efforts in both the Senate & House to resolve the conflict.
Supreme Court & Legal Developments
Asylum “Turnback” Case: On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Noem v. Al Otro Lado, a case determining if the U.S. can legally turn back asylum seekers on the Mexican side of the border.
Judicial Leanings: Initial reports from the hearing suggested the Court may be likely to side with the administration, potentially affirming broad executive authority to block asylum seekers at the border.
Border Enforcement & Statistics
“Zero Releases” Trend: DHS announced a tenth consecutive month of zero illegal alien releases at the border, citing historically low crossing numbers.
New Floating Barriers: Plans were unveiled for 536 miles of cylindrical buoy barriers in the Rio Grande, starting with a 17-mile stretch in Brownsville, Texas.
Texas Border Wall: In contrast to federal expansion, the State of Texas announced on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, it would halt its own border wall construction after completing 82 miles at a cost of $3 billion.
Major Seizures & Safety Concerns
Large Drug Interception: CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge in South Texas seized suspected methamphetamine valued at more than $17 million on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Custody Deaths: Mexican officials reported on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, that 13 Mexican citizens have died in U.S. immigration custody since the beginning of 2026.
FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
US-bound migrants locked in sweltering trailer by cartel human smuggler:
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, US Border News reported that Mexican authorities narrowly prevented a mass-casualty incident involving migrants from Central and South America being smuggled to the US Border from occurring earlier in the week. 229 migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Ecuador were discovered locked in the trailer of a stolen semi-truck in Xelapa, Veracruz. Some had to be treated by EMS personnel for dehydration.
H/T: to US Border News subscriber Sheila Dean for giving us a heads-up about this story! We welcome news tips from our readers.
I remain committed to delivering a US Border Newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.
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Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
You'll note that my headline asks, "Will TSA finally be paid?" even though the President has signed an order to pay them. That's because some, like Georgetown University Congressional legal scholar Josh Chafetz, say he does not have the authority to do so: "It's not just that unilaterally paying TSA agents is illegal. It's that Trump has now repeatedly undermined the core of the congressional power of the purse. He's not spending money that has been appropriated by law (impoundments), and he's spending money that has not been appropriated."