TSA Is Sharing Airline Passenger Data With ICE, Turning U.S. Airports Into Immigration Enforcement Zones

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has quietly begun transmitting U.S. airline passenger information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), marking a significant expansion of federal immigration enforcement at airports nationwide — and sparking widespread concern among privacy and civil liberties advocates.

Since March 2025, TSA has been routinely providing ICE with the names and travel details of passengers booked on domestic and international flights departing U.S. airports. These passenger manifests are sent multiple times per week and are cross-checked against ICE immigration databases to identify individuals with outstanding deportation orders or immigration violations.

Historically, TSA’s use of passenger information — collected under the Secure Flight program — has focused on aviation security, including matching travelers’ names to terrorist watch lists and other national security databases. Aviation security experts note that pre-departure data sharing for routine immigrant enforcement represents a departure from those traditional purposes.

Under the new policy, ICE officers have begun locating and detaining individuals at airport security checkpoints, boarding gates, and jet bridges. Critics argue that this effectively turns airports into immigration enforcement zones, where routine travel can trigger an arrest rather than simply enable safe passage.

The new practice has already led to arrests, including the case of 19-year-old college student Any Lucía López Belloza, who was detained at Boston’s Logan International Airport and deported. Reports suggest multiple similar detentions at other airports such as Salt Lake City and El Paso.

Advocates highlight that even legal residents or individuals with complex immigration backgrounds could face confusion, delays, or wrongful detention due to data mismatches, mistaken identity, or administrative errors.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson defended the partnership, framing it as a restoration of enforcement priorities from previous administrations. Officials stated that the change ensures that undocumented individuals “can no longer fly domestically without being identified,” characterizing the initiative as part of broader efforts to enforce immigration law.

However, DHS has faced criticism for rolling out the program without public notice or clear transparency about how passenger data is used once submitted. Budget debates in Congress and public opinion have also intertwined with the issue, particularly as lawmakers discuss border policy and federal data practices.

Privacy advocates argue that this data-sharing arrangement fundamentally alters the relationship between travelers and government security agencies. Passenger data — already required by law for flight reservations — now functions as a potential trigger for immigration enforcement rather than just safety screening.

Experts warn that the broad sweep of this program may have a chilling effect on travel, particularly within immigrant communities, and could raise constitutional concerns about unreasonable searches and due process. Civil liberties organizations are urging legal challenges and legislative scrutiny in the weeks ahead.

• All airline passengers’ names and booking details are being shared with ICE by TSA.

• The data is used to cross-check against immigration enforcement databases.

• Detentions can occur at checkpoints before boarding, not just at international borders.

• Travelers retain constitutional rights, including the right to counsel if questioned by immigration authorities.

As the policy draws scrutiny from lawmakers, privacy groups, and immigrant rights advocates, debates are likely to focus on whether the nation’s air travel security system should be repurposed to serve broader domestic enforcement goals — and what safeguards must be in place to protect individuals’ rights.