A Reuters investigation revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 800 people using tips from the Transportation Security Administration. The arrests occurred from the start of President Donald Trump's second term through February 2026.

TSA shared records on more than 31,000 travelers with ICE under the Secure Flight Program, created in 2007 to screen passengers against terrorism watchlists. The program has expanded for immigration enforcement, providing ICE with passenger data multiple times a week to identify individuals subject to deportation.

Specific cases included a college student detained at Boston's airport while heading to Texas for Thanksgiving in November 2025, a mother arrested at San Francisco International Airport, an Irish couple living in the U.S. for over two decades who were deported from Florida after a family vacation, leaving their children with relatives, and a Chinese woman detained at Atlanta's airport en route to Philadelphia despite seeking permanent residency. All those arrested had final removal orders, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The disclosures come amid heightened immigration enforcement under Trump. ICE agents were deployed to over a dozen U.S. airports in March to assist TSA amid staffing shortages caused by a partisan funding dispute. Democrats in Congress have blocked Department of Homeland Security funding since mid-February unless reforms scaled back aggressive tactics, leading TSA officers to miss paychecks.

DHS defended the practice, stating the arrests targeted individuals subject to final removal orders. A DHS spokesperson emphasized that the administration will no longer allow undocumented immigrants to travel domestically without identification, aiming to facilitate self-deportation. "This is nothing new," a DHS official told Forbes.

Critics, including more than 40 House Democrats, urged Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to remove ICE agents from airports, warning they cause confusion and fear among travelers. Protests erupted, such as an anti-ICE demonstration at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on March 23. Immigration attorneys highlighted family separations, like in the Irish couple's case.

No figures were available for TSA-ICE data sharing or arrests prior to Trump's current term. Reuters could not determine how many arrests happened inside airports versus after travelers left, as tips often identify travel times for off-site enforcement.

The revelations underscore ongoing tensions over mass deportation efforts, with ICE ramping up operations nationwide.