Over 800 people have reportedly been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the agency’s stint at airports.
The arrests stemmed from tips shared by federal airport security officials from the start of President Trump’s second tenure through February 2026, internal ICE data reviewed by Reuters show.
The Transportation Security Administration supplied ICE with records on more than 31,000 travelers for possible immigration enforcement, gathered by TSA’s Secure Flight Program.
The intended counter-terrorism measure was created in 2007 to let the agency review passenger information for people who may be on U.S. government watchlists. It was not meant to track down immigration offenders.
Beginning March 23, ICE officers were deployed into 13 major international airports across the U.S., under the behest of the president, to aid security efforts amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Nearly 500 TSA officers have quit, thousands have called in to skip work, and two paychecks have been missed.
Immigration enforcement is the epicenter of the funding lapse, as Democrats refuse to fund DHS without agreeing to change the administration’s deportation tactics.
ICE and TSA are part of DHS and have historically shared information, but only began zeroing in on routine immigration arrests last year as part of Mr. Trump’s immigration enforcement.
The department said in a statement that under the president, TSA “is pursuing solutions that improve resiliency, security, and efficiency across our entire system.”
While it’s unclear how many arrests took place inside airports, tips from airport security would be useful in determining a suspect’s traveling schedule, allowing for a planned detainment.
Democrats have objected to the deployment of ICE agents at airports, arguing that it is an improper use of federal officials. Some called it an escalation of immigration enforcement in public spaces rather than a solution to security line delays.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office said on social media: “By sending ICE into airports, Trump is proving the problem in real time. ICE has become the president’s lawless, under-trained, personal police force, deployed to serve his agenda — not the law.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said immigration agents were “causing chaos and instilling fear” at airports.
Both Mr. Newsom and Mr. Pritzker are potential Democratic presidenital contenders in 2028.
Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, said last week that ICE agents could continue to be stationed at airports even after TSA workers receive their paychecks following Mr. Trump’s executive order to pay them.
ICE officers have been assisting TSA agents by “checking identification” and “plugging other security holes,” Mr. Homan said.
“Look, we’re going to continue a nice presence there and until the airports feel like they’re 100%,” he said, adding, “If less TSA agents come back, that means we’ll keep more ICE agents there.”
