Airport immigration arrests surge due to TSA-ICE collaboration, sources say

Immigration arrests at U.S. airports are reportedly increasing due to enhanced cooperation between the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to ICE sources speaking to CBS News.

The TSA is now sharing more information about noncitizen travelers with ICE. This includes data on individuals who may not have criminal records but are suspected of civil immigration violations, such as overstaying their visas. TSA agents are increasingly providing ICE with "tips" or "leads" to facilitate the arrest, detention, and deportation of individuals deemed deportable by the federal government.

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easy targets

Immigration lawyers suggest that some individuals caught in this intensified enforcement include those with pending immigration applications or work permits but lacking permanent legal status. Previously, ICE sources indicated that the collaboration between TSA and ICE primarily focused on less high-profile investigations involving federal criminal offenses or public safety concerns, like drug smuggling and human trafficking.

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stupid

A significant policy shift has occurred, with the two agencies now collaborating more broadly on civil immigration enforcement. A memo disclosed by American Oversight revealed that TSA and ICE signed an agreement in May 2025 to boost information sharing. One ICE source described airport travelers as "easy targets" for agents, allowing for arrests in secure locations with advance knowledge of their cases. This approach is seen as a straightforward method to increase daily arrest numbers, especially as the White House pressures ICE to record 2,000 daily arrests.

Historically, individuals in the U.S. without permanent legal status could travel domestically without issue if they had no criminal record or public safety concerns. This is no longer the case. An ICE source called it a "stupid" idea for such individuals to attempt domestic travel. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alluded to this shift, stating, "DHS reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country. Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this."

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DHS reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country. Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this.