Immigration Enforcement Update 

For years, many undocumented immigrants have relied on domestic travel to work, care for family, or attend important life events, believing that staying within U.S. borders carried minimal immigration risk. Recent, well-documented airport arrests and federal data-sharing practices show that this assumption is no longer reliable — particularly when it comes to air travel.

A series of widely reported airport arrests, combined with confirmed federal data-sharing practices, demonstrate a clear shift in immigration enforcement. Routine domestic air travel is now increasingly intersecting with immigration enforcement — sometimes with life-altering consequences.

I. Domestic Travel Is Legal — But Enforcement Practices Have Changed

U.S. immigration law does not prohibit undocumented individuals from traveling within the United States. No visa or immigration approval is required to board a domestic flight, drive across state lines, or take a bus or train.However, legality does not equal safety. Immigration authorities retain broad civil arrest authority, and recent enforcement practices demonstrate that routine domestic travel — especially through airports — can now expose individuals to immigration detention even in the absence of criminal activity.

II. What the Recent News Reports Confirm

Airport Arrests During Routine Domestic Travel

In October 2025, a highly publicized arrest took place at Salt Lake City International Airport, where a woman traveling on a domestic flight was detained by immigration officers inside the public terminal, near security and baggage claim areas. Video of the incident spread rapidly, showing officers escorting her through the airport while she insisted she had valid documents.

Federal authorities later confirmed that the arrest was based on a prior removal order issued years earlier, even though the individual reportedly held valid work authorization at the time. The arrest did not occur at a border and was unrelated to any criminal allegation — it occurred during ordinary domestic travel.

The El Paso Airport DACA Detention

In August 2025, a second major incident occurred at El Paso International Airport involving Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago, a DACA recipient and community activist. After passing through TSA screening while waiting to board a domestic flight to Austin, she was stopped by immigration agents, questioned about her status, and detained — despite presenting a valid DACA work permit.

Ms. Santiago was held in immigration custody for weeks. A federal judge later ordered her release, finding that the detention raised serious constitutional concerns. The case drew national attention and sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, particularly among DACA recipients who believed they were insulated from such enforcement during domestic travel.

A Pattern, Not Isolated Incidents

Across these cases, consistent factors emerge:

• Travelers were flying within the United States only
• They passed through standard TSA screening
• Immigration officers were already present inside airport terminals
• Arrests occurred before boarding or immediately after landing

These incidents make clear that airports have become active sites of interior immigration enforcement.

III. TSA Passenger Data and ICE Enforcement

In December 2025, investigative reporting confirmed that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been regularly sharing domestic airline passenger data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to that reporting:

• Passenger names from domestic flight manifests are provided to ICE
• ICE cross-references those names against immigration enforcement databases
• Individuals with prior removal orders or unresolved records may be identified before they arrive at the airport
• Immigration officers may be positioned inside terminals in advance

Travelers are not notified that their information has been reviewed, and detention can occur without warning, either before boarding or upon arrival. This data-driven enforcement explains why airport arrests during domestic travel have increased and why they often appear targeted rather than random.

IV. Arrest Authority at Airports

Immigration officers do not need a criminal warrant to make a civil immigration arrest. If an officer believes an individual is removable — for example, due to a prior removal order, missed court hearing, or unresolved case — that individual may be taken into custody.

Airport arrests have occurred:

• During TSA screening
• Near boarding gates
• Immediately after arrival on domestic flights

Once detained, individuals may be transferred to immigration detention with little opportunity to prepare, notify family, or consult legal counsel.

V. Is Land Travel Safer? Not Always

Some individuals consider driving or traveling by bus or train as a safer alternative. While land travel generally involves fewer formal screening mechanisms, immigration enforcement still occurs through interior checkpoints, traffic stops, and cooperation between local and federal authorities.Land travel may reduce visibility, but it does not eliminate risk — especially for individuals with prior enforcement history.

VI. Who Is Most at Risk Right Now

Based on current enforcement trends, higher-risk individuals include those who:

• Have a prior removal or deportation order
• Missed an immigration court hearing
• Have pending or denied immigration applications
• Have unresolved or outdated records in enforcement databases

Even individuals who have lived in the United States for many years without recent enforcement contact may still be affected.

VII. Practical Guidance Before You Travel

Before traveling domestically, individuals without lawful status should consider:

• Assess the Risk: Avoid travel if you can, you are especially at risk if you have a prior removal order, a missed court date, or a denied application.
• Emergency Contact: Ensure a trusted person has your flight itinerary, a copy of your documents, and your attorney’s phone number.
• Planning for Children in Mixed-Status Families: If you are the parent or primary caregiver of young children, especially U.S. citizen children, it is important to make advance arrangements in case you are detained or separated during travel. This may include identifying a trusted caregiver, sharing emergency contact information, and ensuring that essential documents are accessible. Immigration officers are not required to release an individual because they have children, and detention decisions are often made before family circumstances are reviewed. For this reason, parents should discuss contingency planning with an immigration attorney before traveling.

IX. Conclusion: Consult Legal Counsel Before You Fly

Domestic travel within the United States remains legally permitted for undocumented individuals and those with temporary protections. However, recent airport arrests and confirmed TSA–ICE data sharing make clear that the immigration enforcement landscape has fundamentally changed.

The Law Offices of Sabrina Li, P.C. advises immigrants nationwide on removal defense, waivers, adjustment of status, and enforcement-risk strategy. We closely monitor policy developments and real-world enforcement trends to help our clients make informed decisions and safeguard themselves and their families.

If you are considering domestic travel and are unsure how your immigration history may affect your safety, we strongly encourage you to seek legal advice before traveling. Call 213-375-8096 or email info@sabrinali.law to schedule a confidential consultation.