The Department of Homeland Security says the Trump administration is working to prevent undocumented immigrants from flying within the United States, as immigration attorneys and airline employees report a growing ICE presence at airports and increased use of passenger data to locate travelers.
"This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens who are illegally in our country can no longer fly, unless it is to leave the country and self-deport," DHS told CNN. The agency said it had reversed a Biden-era policy that allowed undocumented immigrants to travel by air domestically.
Immigration attorneys told CNN that airport arrests appear to be occurring more frequently as ICE works toward the administration's goal of roughly 2,000 arrests per day. Roberto Ortiz, a Miami immigration attorney, said he is currently advising clients not to fly, while other lawyers cautioned that noncitizens with pending immigration cases could also face risks.
Airports offer immigration authorities a controlled environment where travelers arrive at predictable times and locations. DHS also receives passenger information collected by the Transportation Security Administration, potentially allowing authorities to identify targeted travelers before they arrive.
TIME reported Wednesday that airline employees in Colorado, Texas and Arizona have encountered ICE agents seeking assistance locating passengers, accessing airline information and, in some cases, entering restricted areas. Workers said procedures for responding to such requests have sometimes been unclear.
A data-sharing agreement signed by TSA and ICE in May 2025 allows immigration authorities to obtain traveler information, including names and birth dates, according to documents made public following litigation by watchdog group American Oversight.
Recent cases illustrate the broader reach of airport enforcement. Ecuadorian national Diana Andreina Vera Espinoza, 27, was detained at Phoenix's airport on Aug. 6 while traveling with her U.S.-citizen husband, according to her family, despite having a pending immigration process.
Argentine national Iliana Noeli Lick was detained at Philadelphia International Airport on July 11 while traveling domestically to attend a World Cup match. She spent about a month in detention. DHS said Lick had overstayed her visa. Lick disputes that account, saying she had applied for asylum and received work authorization and a Social Security number.
The ACLU has advised noncitizens without secure legal status to consider the immigration risks associated with flying, including on domestic routes.
