TSA Is Helping ICE Ramp Up Arrests At Airports
ICE has detained travelers at more than 15 airports as it expands arrests of visa overstayers with TSA passenger data, officials said.
- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump's administration began arresting foreign citizens with expired United States visas, including spouses of Americans, at at least 15 airports nationwide using ICE and Transportation Security Administration data.
- A memo from American Oversight revealed that TSA and ICE signed an agreement to share passenger records, marking the first time the partnership extends to civil immigration enforcement. DHS stated the collaboration is essential to 'keep our skies and our country safe.'
- The Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights issued a travel advisory this week after receiving 'several reports of arrests by immigration agents at airports nationally,' with incidents reported in California and New Jersey.
- These enforcement actions affect people who 'historically may not have been considered at heightened risk,' including those with pending asylum applications and no prior removal orders.
- Former acting ICE director John Sandweg said the agency is 'mining' TSA data to 'pad' arrest statistics as it works to meet a goal of around 3,000 daily arrests.
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Immigration agents are seen inside Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A in Newark, New Jersey, on March 23, 2026. President Donald Trump states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be deployed to airports nationwide beginning Monday. The agents are expected to assist TSA officers with security. (Photo by Matthew Hoen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Immigration agents are seen inside Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A in Newark, New Jersey, on March 23, 2026. President Donald Trump states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be deployed to airports nationwide beginning Monday. The agents are expected to assist TSA officers with security. (Photo by Matthew Hoen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Off the news: With TSA’s help, ICE lands in airports | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
The deportation drive has reached American airports, where federal agents are arresting spouses of Americans, tech workers, au pair and others whose visas have expired, regardless of whether they are seeking renewals or have active applications to stay in the country. It’s “a remarkable shift from past practices, when the federal government avoided involving the TSA in immigration enforcement for fear of disrupting domestic travel,” The New York…
Immigration News Today: Increased ICE-TSA Collaboration Drives Immigration Arrests at Airports Nationwide
Just have a minute? Here are the top stories you need to know about immigration. This summary was featured in Documented’s Early Arrival newsletter. You can subscribe to receive it in your inbox three times per week here. Around the U.S. Increased ICE-TSA collaboration drives immigration arrests at airports nationwide: Former acting ICE director John Sandweg said the agency is “mining” TSA data to “pad” arrest statistics, in an interview transcr…
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