Overview
- Internal ICE data, revealed Tuesday by Reuters, shows TSA sent records on more than 31,000 travelers that helped generate over 800 arrests from 2017 through February 2026.
- The records came from TSA’s Secure Flight program, which checks passenger details against terrorism watchlists and was not created to find immigration violators under its governing rule.
- DHS said those arrested had final orders of removal and said TSA under President Trump is pursuing steps to improve resiliency, security, and efficiency across the system.
- After a DHS funding lapse led TSA officers to miss two paychecks, the administration deployed ICE officers on March 23 to about 13 major airports to help with ID checks and other security duties.
- Democrats, unions, and immigration lawyers say the data use and airport arrests cause fear and confusion for travelers and families, and Reuters could not determine how many arrests happened inside airports.