ICE arrests at US airports are happening more frequently, attorneys say. Here’s what we know

Key Points:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests at U.S. airports are reportedly increasing, with agents targeting individuals traveling with expired visas or pending immigration applications, raising concerns among attorneys about abrupt detentions during travel.
• The uptick in airport arrests is part of the Trump administration's goal to increase deportations, aiming for around 2,000 arrests daily, with airports providing a secure and controlled environment for ICE to detain individuals.
• Several recent cases highlight these practices, including a woman detained en route to a family funeral in Virginia, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant arrested on the job, and a Ukrainian woman forcibly detained in San Francisco despite ongoing legal processes.
• Critics argue that these tactics disrupt individuals lawfully pursuing immigration status and create fear among travelers, while DHS maintains that pending applications do not confer legal status and defends the enforcement actions as lawful.
• The cooperation between TSA and ICE at airports, previously uncommon, has intensified, with officials citing operational security for not confirming arrest locations, even as advocates call for clearer policies to protect those in the immigration process.