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5d ago

TSA Has Been Sending U.S. Passenger Lists to ICE for Airport Arrests, Documents Show

The disclosure spotlights a March rollout that repurposes security data for immigration enforcement, prompting oversight questions.

A detailed view of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) patch on an employee's shirt at Orlando International Airport (MCO) on November 09, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. © Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images
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Overview

  • Documents indicate that since March 2025 TSA has shared domestic traveler lists with ICE multiple times per week to match names against deportation records.
  • The Pacific Enforcement Response Center in California has flagged specific flights and provided photos, flight numbers, and departure times to local ICE officers.
  • The program was linked to at least two arrests, including Any Lucía López Belloza’s Nov. 20 detention at Boston Logan and an October arrest in Salt Lake City, with López deported two days later.
  • The Department of Homeland Security characterized the practice as nothing new and tied it to policy changes under Secretary Kristi Noem, while the total number of arrests remains unclear.
  • Former officials and advocates warn the effort blurs TSA’s security role, could disrupt airport operations, and may discourage travel among immigrant communities.