Airlines Object to Increased ICE Enforcement at Airports

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Airlines Object to Increased ICE Enforcement at Airports

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U.S. airlines are expressing concerns over the intensified immigration enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at airports nationwide. This follows reports that federal agents are utilizing flight manifests to apprehend travelers with expired visas, leading to objections regarding safety and established protocols. A government official familiar with the data indicated that ICE made approximately one to three dozen arrests daily at U.S. airports last month.

The increased enforcement stems from an expanded collaboration between ICE and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which reportedly began in May 2025. This partnership involves the TSA sharing passenger data with ICE, which then cross-references this information with its enforcement databases to identify individuals with existing deportation orders or unresolved immigration cases. While initially targeting individuals with final removal orders, the scope has reportedly widened to include those whose visas have expired, even if they have pending applications for extensions or adjustments of status.

Several incidents in July 2026 have brought this issue to the forefront. On July 14, Southwest Airlines flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson was detained by ICE at Nashville International Airport upon returning from a work flight. Authorities stated Thompson, a Jamaican national, had overstayed a visa that expired in October 2021. His union and supporters are advocating for due process. Additionally, on July 25, an ICE officer attempted to board a Southwest Airlines flight in Dallas to make an arrest but was reportedly rebuffed by the airline, citing policies against disclosing passenger information. Another incident in late July in Denver involved ICE officers arresting a woman on a jet bridge for a Southwest flight, an event captured on video and widely circulated.

Airlines and their employees are raising concerns about the impact of these enforcement actions on operations and passenger trust. The Association of Flight Attendants, representing flight attendants at several major airlines, voiced alarm about the ICE presence and enforcement activities at airports in March. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have stated that the increased enforcement is a necessary step to close loopholes and ensure that individuals without legal status do not fly domestically unless it is to self-deport.

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