Major U.S. airlines are in discussions with the Trump administration regarding a rise in immigration arrests at airports, according to the Washington Examiner. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified its focus on apprehending illegal immigrants attempting to board domestic flights, raising concerns among airline passengers and the aviation sector about potential negative impacts on business.
ICE's efforts have included detaining individuals at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints and, in some cases, after security, such as at boarding gates. For instance, last month, ICE detained a woman at Denver International Airport for overstaying her visa.
Airlines 4 America, a trade association representing major U.S. airlines, confirmed that they are in talks with ICE and TSA to establish protocols for law enforcement activities at airports to ensure the safety of travelers and employees. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines did not provide comments on the situation, while Southwest Airlines emphasized its commitment to legal compliance and passenger safety.
ICE has collaborated with TSA to station deportation officers at security checkpoints to identify and detain travelers who have overstayed their visas. Reports indicate that TSA receives advanced travel information 72 hours before flights, allowing them to screen passengers and share relevant data with ICE.
As of late July, ICE had conducted arrests at airports in nine states, including California and Virginia. The increase in ICE activity coincides with the White House's push to escalate immigration enforcement, with daily arrests reaching approximately 1,600 as of early July, the highest in President Trump's second term. Although ICE primarily targets individuals with criminal histories, the proportion of noncriminal arrests has increased since the spring.
In one case, two pastors arrested at a Texas airport for overstaying their religious visas were released after intervention from Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX). They had overstayed their visas by more than four years and are now required to report to ICE as part of the Alternatives to Detention program. Overstaying a visa is a civil violation, leading to automatic visa cancellation and potential bans on re-entry to the U.S.