ICE expands airport arrests of migrants, including those with work visas

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly intensifying its efforts to arrest migrants at airports, targeting individuals with work visas undergoing renewal, spouses of U.S. citizens, and asylum seekers, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Internal agency data indicates that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has shared records of over 31,000 travelers between early 2025 and February 2026, resulting in more than 800 arrests. New cases have since emerged in cities including San Francisco, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Hartford.

Immigration attorneys have observed an increase in the frequency of these airport operations, although the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet officially confirmed the extent of this expanded program. A significant concern highlighted by legal experts is that having an ongoing immigration process, such as a pending green card, asylum claim, or work visa renewal, no longer guarantees protection from apprehension at the airport, even if the individual's presence in the country is legally permitted under that process. The current administration's criteria consider any expired visa as an irregular status, even with a pending application.

Organizations like the ACLU and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) have established protocols for migrants with legal status facing ICE encounters. However, some Bay Area advocacy groups are now advising individuals without U.S. citizenship to avoid domestic flights unless absolutely necessary, not just those with pending immigration cases. This advisory extends to individuals with work visas in renewal and spouses of U.S. citizens, categories previously considered less vulnerable to such enforcement actions.

The DHS has not officially confirmed the scope of this expanded program, but the administration maintains its goal of 2,000 immigration arrests daily. June reportedly saw the highest monthly figure to date, with over 43,000 detentions nationwide. ICE is also conducting internal training for regional inspectors on the use of body cameras, as indicated by a photomontage generated with AI.