ICE Domestic Flight Arrests Raise Concerns as Enforcement Expands at U.S. Airports
ICE Domestic Flight Arrests are raising new concerns as immigration enforcement at U.S. airports expands beyond international travelers to include passengers on domestic flights, according to immigration attorneys, advocacy groups, and recent media reports.
Reports of surprise immigration checks have increased at major airports, with travelers being questioned or detained not only at check-in counters but also after clearing security and even at departure and arrival gates.
According to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 10 people at California airports within the past week alone. Incidents have been reported at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Denver International Airport (DEN).
A Korean American lawful permanent resident shared a recent experience, while waiting to board a flight from Houston to Nashville, he was unexpectedly subjected to an identity check despite already passing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening.
The traveler said TSA officers rechecked passengers’ identification and boarding passes while asking some individuals about their nationality and immigration status. After confirming that he was a lawful permanent resident and presenting his Green Card, he was allowed to board.
“The flight was completely full before the inspection, but it departed with empty seats afterward,” he recalled.
Why Immigration Attorneys Are Warning Travelers
The increase in airport enforcement has prompted a surge in inquiries to immigration law firms from people asking whether domestic air travel remains safe.
Brian Oh, an immigration attorney, said his advice has changed significantly.
“Previously, we generally told clients that a valid driver’s license or passport was sufficient for domestic travel,” Oh said. “Now the situation is different. Undocumented immigrants, as well as people with pending Change of Status (COS) or Extension of Stay (EOS) applications, should consider postponing domestic flights for the time being.”
Oh explained that applicants with pending COS or EOS petitions are generally considered to be in lawful status. However, recent cases suggest some individuals have been detained because their original visas had already expired, even while their applications remained under review.
As a result, immigration attorneys recommend that even lawful noncitizens carry documents proving their legal status whenever traveling domestically. These may include a Green Card, Form I-797, Form I-94, Form I-20, or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
ICE Domestic Flight Arrests Reflect Broader Enforcement Shift
The New York Times recently reported that the Trump administration has broadened airport immigration enforcement beyond individuals with final deportation orders to include people whose visas have expired.
According to the report, those affected include spouses of U.S. citizens, applicants seeking employment-based visa extensions, permanent residency applicants, and others with pending immigration benefits.
One recent case involved 27-year-old Chantal Morales Rojas, who was arrested by plainclothes ICE agents at Denver International Airport just before boarding a domestic flight to Oakland. Although her J-1 visa had expired, she was reportedly pursuing a lawful extension of her immigration status at the time of her arrest.
NBC News, citing a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, reported that ICE is currently making an average of 20 to 40 airport arrests each day.
Increased Information Sharing Between TSA and ICE
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups say the rise in airport arrests appears to coincide with expanded information sharing between TSA and ICE.
Last month, a video showing plainclothes ICE agents forcibly restraining an Australian citizen whose visa had expired at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas sparked widespread attention online. Although the man was released at the scene, he was arrested again the following day at Los Angeles International Airport.
As enforcement continues to expand, immigration attorneys advise non-U.S. citizens—particularly those with pending immigration applications—to carefully evaluate travel plans and carry documentation proving their lawful status before boarding domestic flights.
