Immigration authorities arrested more than 800 people at U.S. airports after receiving information from airport security, according to data published by the news agency. Reuters.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shared the information and provided Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with data on more than 31,000 travelers between the start of Donald Trump's administration in January 2025 and February 2026.

ICE and the TSA, which They are part of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has historically shared information related to national security threats, but began focusing on routine immigration arrests last year as part of Trump's mass deportation effort.

How does the system work

The data comes from the Secure Flight program, created to detect terrorist threats. However, it is now also used to identify people without legal immigration status.

Although not all arrests These incidents occurred at airports; the information allows authorities to know when a person will travel, making it easier to detain them.

The government originally designed the program for national security, not to enforce immigration laws.

It is now part of a broader deportation strategy in which immigration agents are using airline passenger data for deportation efforts, the report stated. The New York Times in December 2025.

“The message to those who are in the country illegally is clear: the only reason they should fly is to self-deport and return to their country,” said Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security.

“It’s not a new policy”

In January 2026, at a Congressional Department of Homeland Security Oversight hearing, Democratic lawmakers questioned Ha Nguyen McNeill, the acting director of the TSA.

“Sharing information among Department of Homeland Security agencies is not a new policy,” Ha Nguyen McNeill said.

Ha Nguyen McNeill also told lawmakers that his agents are “absolutely” allowing ICE agents access to passenger data to support their deportation efforts.

>>>  What does traveling within the United States without legal immigration status entail, depending on the mode of transportation? To better understand the context, you can also consult our guides on to travel by plane while undocumented y What you should know before using a train or bus in the United States. Both articles explain what controls exist, how they work, and what situations have been documented in each case.

Know your rights

The National Immigration Law Center It shared a "community alert" on its website with tips on how to prepare for and understand the risks of traveling.

Considerations for parents

The authorities acknowledge that the parents arrested They have the right to decide on the care of their children, although in practice this is not always respected.

Therefore, experts recommend preparing in advance, such as establishing temporary guardianships and accessing reliable resources to protect the family.

• ICE has a policy that states that Detained parents have the right to make decisions about what happens to their childrenHowever, ICE does not always follow its own policies. 
• One way to protect your children is to establish temporary guardianships so that a trusted adult or friend can take care of them if you are arrested.

The Children Thrive Action Network contains useful information: «Staying Whole: A Love Letter to Immigrant Parents» (Maintain integrity: a A love letter to immigrant parents). 

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More than 800 arrests at airports after data sharing between TSA and ICE

by Walter Gomez, Enlace Latino NC
April 8, 2026

Enlace Latino NCApril 8, 2026 Immigration authorities arrested more than 800 people at U.S. airports after receiving information from airport security, according to data published by the Reuters news agency. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shared the information and provided Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with data on more than 31,000 travelers between the start of Donald Trump's administration in January 2025 and February 2026. ICE and the TSA, which are part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have historically shared information related to national security threats, but began focusing on routine immigration arrests last year as part of Trump's mass deportation effort. How the system works The data comes from the Secure Flight program, created to detect terrorist threats. However, it is now also used to identify people without legal immigration status . Although not all arrests occurred at airports, the information allows authorities to know when a person will travel, making it easier to detain them. The government originally designed the program for national security, not to enforce immigration laws. It is now part of a broader deportation strategy in which immigration agents are using airline passenger data for the deportation effort, The New York Times reported in December 2025. “The message to those who are in the country illegally is clear: the only reason they should fly is to self-deport and return to their country,” said Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. "It's not a new policy" In January 2026, at a Congressional Department of Homeland Security Oversight hearing, Democratic lawmakers questioned Ha Nguyen McNeill, the acting director of the TSA. “Sharing information among Department of Homeland Security agencies is not a new policy,” Ha Nguyen McNeill said. Ha Nguyen McNeill also told lawmakers that his agents are “absolutely” allowing ICE agents access to passenger data to support their deportation efforts. >>> What does it mean to travel within the United States without regular immigration status, depending on the means of transport. To better understand the context, you can also consult our guides ontraveling by plane as an undocumented immigrant and what you should know before using trains or buses in the United States . Both articles explain what controls exist, how they work, and what situations have been documented in each case. Know your rights The National Immigration Law Center shared a “community alert” on its website with tips on how to prepare for and understand the risks of traveling. Considerations for parents Authorities acknowledge that detained parents have the right to decide on the care of their children, although in practice this is not always respected. Therefore, experts recommend preparing in advance, such as establishing temporary guardianships and accessing reliable resources to protect the family. ICE has a policy stating that detained parents have the right to make decisions about what happens to their children . However, ICE does not always follow its own policies. One way to protect your children is to establish temporary guardianships so that a trusted adult or friend can take care of them if you are arrested. Children Thrive Action Network contains useful information: "Staying Whole: A Love Letter to Immigrant Parents ". This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/mas-de-800-arrestos-en-aeropuertos-tras-intercambio-de-datos-entre-el-tsa-y-el-ice/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/mas-de-4.0-arrestos-en-aeropuertos-tras-intercambio-de-datos-entre-el-tsa-y-el-ice/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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