Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 7: More than 800 people have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement based on tips shared by federal airport security officials since the start of Donald Trump’s presidency through February 2026, according to internal data reviewed by Reuters.
The leads were provided by the Transportation Security Administration, which shared records of over 31,000 travellers with ICE for potential immigration enforcement, the report said. While it remains unclear how many arrests occurred inside airports, the data was primarily used to track travel movements.
Both ICE and TSA operate under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Traditionally, information sharing between the agencies focused on national security threats, but since last year, it has expanded to include routine immigration enforcement as part of Trump’s mass deportation drive.
The traveller data was sourced from TSA’s Secure Flight Program, introduced in 2007 as a counter-terrorism measure to screen passengers against government watchlists. Experts note that the programme was not originally intended for immigration enforcement purposes.
The DHS did not directly respond to queries on the data-sharing arrangement but said TSA is working to improve “resiliency, security, and efficiency” across the system.
The issue has sparked political tensions in the United States. Since mid-February, Democrats have opposed additional funding for immigration enforcement without reforms to curb aggressive tactics, leading to a standoff that delayed a key DHS funding bill.
The funding deadlock resulted in TSA officers missing at least two paychecks. Amid staff shortages, the Trump administration deployed ICE officers to more than a dozen airports in March to assist with security operations.
The move drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with over 40 members of the House of Representatives writing to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, warning that the presence of ICE officers in airports could create “confusion and fear.”
Several reported cases of arrests at airports have also triggered backlash. These include the detention of a college student travelling from Boston to Texas and the arrest of a woman at San Francisco International Airport shortly before the deployment of ICE personnel.
Immigration lawyers cited additional cases, including an Irish couple detained in front of their children at an airport after living in the US for over two decades, and a Chinese woman apprehended while travelling between cities despite seeking permanent residency.
Authorities have defended the actions, stating that those detained were subject to final orders of removal. Further debate is expected as scrutiny grows over the use of aviation security data in immigration enforcement.