US expands immigration enforcement into domestic air travel
Rights groups warn of a chilling effect as ICE gains a bigger airport presence and access to passenger data
WASHINGTON (MNTV) — The Trump administration is increasingly using U.S. airports for immigration enforcement, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warning undocumented immigrants against domestic air travel unless they intend to leave the country.
DHS told CNN it is moving away from a Biden-era policy that permitted domestic flights by people without lawful status, amid reports from attorneys and airline staff of a growing presence by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at airports.
The shift extends enforcement well beyond borders and workplaces: airports offer predictable locations, passenger manifests, and traveler data useful for locating people.
Lawyers told CNN that airport arrests appear to be rising as ICE works toward a reported goal of about 2,000 arrests a day, and some are advising clients without secure status to avoid flying.
Passenger data is central to the strategy.
A data-sharing agreement between the Transportation Security Administration and ICE lets immigration authorities obtain traveler information, and documents released through litigation indicate it can be used to identify people before they reach an airport.
TIME reported that ICE agents in Colorado, Texas, and Arizona had approached airline workers for help locating passengers and, in some cases, entering restricted areas — with procedures often unclear.
Recent cases show the stakes: an Ecuadorian woman with a pending immigration process was detained at Phoenix airport while traveling with her U.S.-citizen husband, and an Argentine traveler was held at Philadelphia while heading to a World Cup match, in a dispute over her status.
The policy raises questions about how authorities distinguish between final removal orders, visa overstays, and pending applications, and the American Civil Liberties Union has urged noncitizens without secure status to weigh the risks of even domestic travel.
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