TSA Data Leading to Arrests

More than 800 individuals have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement based on information provided by the Transportation Security Administration.

According to a report by Reuters, internal ICE data shows that the TSA shared information on approximately 31,000 travelers for potential immigration enforcement. The data covers the period from the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency through February 2026.

Reuters noted that it is unclear how many arrests took place inside airports, although TSA tips have been used to identify when individuals would be traveling.

How does the TSA collect traveler data?
The report states that the 31,000 traveler records were gathered through the TSA’s Secure Flight Program, created in 2007. The program was originally designed to screen passenger information to identify individuals who may be on federal watchlists as part of counterterrorism efforts — not specifically to target immigration violations.

ICE arrests at airports
Reports of ICE agents detaining domestic travelers at U.S. airports have drawn criticism in some sectors.

Last year, ICE agents detained a college student traveling from Boston to Texas for Thanksgiving, according to Reuters.

In March 2026, a video went viral on social media showing ICE agents arresting two individuals at San Francisco International Airport. Fox News reported that the video showed Angelina Lopez-Jimenez on her knees, crying, while being handcuffed in front of her child.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security defended the arrests, stating that the individuals were subject to final orders of removal, according to Reuters.

Separately, Reuters spoke with three immigration attorneys who said they were aware of cases involving individuals without legal status being detained at U.S. airports.

One attorney described a case involving an Irish couple who had lived in the United States for over 20 years. They were detained in 2025 while attempting to travel from Florida to New York after a vacation. Despite having pending applications for permanent residency, they were deported, leaving their two children, ages 7 and 10, in the care of older siblings in the U.S.

In another case, a Chinese woman with a final order of removal, who was also seeking permanent residency, was detained by ICE agents in 2025 at the Atlanta airport while traveling to Philadelphia.

ICE presence at airports
In March, Donald Trump stated that federal immigration agents could be used to help reduce long airport security lines unless Congress approved additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

He argued that ICE agents could support the TSA, which has faced staffing shortages during periods of government shutdown. ICE operations continue to be funded during such shutdowns.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the presence of ICE agents at airports and called for their removal. Reuters reported that more than 40 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, stating that ICE agents at airports could “create confusion and fear” among travelers.