Federal data reveal expanded use of airport screening information in immigration enforcement under Trump administration policies.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has carried out more than 800 arrests using travel data shared by airport security officials since the start of Donald Trump’s current term, according to internal records reported by Reuters.
The data indicate that the Transportation Security Administration provided ICE with information on more than 31,000 travelers for potential immigration enforcement actions through February 2026. The records were derived from TSA’s Secure Flight Program, a system originally established to identify individuals who may pose national security risks.
ICE and TSA both operate under the Department of Homeland Security, and while the agencies have historically collaborated on security-related threats, the data show a shift toward using the information for routine immigration enforcement.
The Secure Flight Program, launched in 2007, was designed to screen airline passengers against government watchlists tied to terrorism concerns. The use of this data to identify individuals for immigration enforcement represents a broader application than its initial purpose.
Officials did not specify how many arrests occurred within airport terminals, though the information shared by TSA would primarily indicate when individuals were scheduled to travel. The Department of Homeland Security did not directly address questions regarding the data-sharing practices but stated that TSA “is pursuing solutions that improve resiliency, security, and efficiency across our entire system.”
The expanded use of airport data comes amid ongoing political disputes over immigration enforcement and federal funding. Since mid-February, a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over immigration policy has delayed passage of funding legislation for DHS operations.
As a result, TSA officers missed multiple pay periods, leading to staffing challenges at airports. In response, the administration deployed ICE personnel to assist operations at more than a dozen airports in March.
The move has drawn criticism from lawmakers. More than 40 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, warning that the presence of ICE agents in airports “will cause confusion and fear.”
Recent enforcement actions have intensified scrutiny. Immigration authorities detained a college student traveling domestically and arrested a mother at San Francisco International Airport shortly before the expanded deployment began. Federal officials stated both individuals were subject to final orders of removal.
Legal advocates report additional cases involving long-term residents. One attorney described an incident in which an Irish couple with pending residency applications was detained at an airport after traveling within the United States and later deported, leaving their children in the country.
In another case cited by attorneys, a Chinese national with a removal order was detained while traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The use of passenger screening data for immigration enforcement has raised questions about the scope of federal authority and the balance between security programs and civil immigration actions. Officials have not disclosed comparable figures from prior administrations, leaving unclear how significantly the practice has expanded over time.
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