US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 800 people following tips shared by federal airport security officials from the start of Donald Trump’s presidency through February 2026, internal ICE data reviewed by Reuters show, a figure far above what was previously publicly known.
The leads came from the Transportation Security Administration, which supplied ICE with records on more than 31,000 travelers for possible immigration enforcement, the data showed.
Reuters could not determine how many arrests took place inside airports, although the TSA tips would mainly be useful in determining when a person would be traveling.
ICE and TSA are part of the US Department of Homeland Security.
The agencies have historically shared information related to national security threats, but they began focusing on routine immigration arrests last year as part of Trump’s mass deportation effort.
TSA program was designed to counter terrorism
The 31,000 traveler records were gathered by TSA’s Secure Flight Program, which was created in 2007 to allow the agency to review passenger information for people who may be on US government watchlists.
The program was intended as a counter-terrorism measure, not to track down immigration offenders, according to the regulation outlining its purpose.
DHS did not respond to questions about TSA providing passenger information to ICE, but said that under Trump, TSA “is pursuing solutions that improve resiliency, security, and efficiency across our entire system.”
Figures for arrests and traveler records that TSA shared with ICE before Trump’s current term were unavailable. --->READ MORE HERE
More than 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. --->READ MORE HERE
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