Overview
- ICE has stepped up airport operations that agents say now result in about 20 to 40 arrests a day, and DHS confirmed July detentions topped 50,000, the highest monthly total reported under the administration.
- The agency is using a formal data‑sharing agreement tied to the TSA Secure Flight program, signed May 29, 2025, which gives ICE access to passenger information and sets rules on retention and access.
- Major U.S. carriers have tightened cooperation rules, asking for court orders or warrants before sharing passenger data or allowing agents to board planes, and some airline staff have blocked onboard arrests.
- ICE is rolling out body‑worn cameras after a roughly $30 million purchase of Axon equipment, but agency policy allows leadership to delay or withhold public release of recordings, prompting transparency concerns.
- Advocates and lawyers warn the operations are catching people with pending asylum or residency cases and note only about a third of recent arrestees had criminal convictions, which has driven calls for independent oversight and legal guidance for travelers.