ICE is at NYC area airports. Here's what travelers should know before they go.

Key Points:

• The deployment of ICE agents to airports amid a TSA shortage has led to increased calls from immigrants seeking guidance on travel risks, rights, and whether to fly, as ICE arrests at airports have surged under the Trump administration.
• Immigrants at high risk of detention—including those without permanent status, with criminal charges, or past contact with the legal system—are advised to reconsider travel plans, with organizations recommending checking deportation orders before flying.
• Travelers should know their constitutional rights, including the right to refuse questioning or searches, though refusal may result in being barred from boarding; ICE’s airport presence is viewed by some attorneys as an intimidation tactic.
• It is recommended that travelers secure their electronic devices by disabling biometric features and removing sensitive information, as device searches and confiscations by federal agents remain legally contested and have targeted some immigration lawyers.
• Bringing physical copies of immigration and legal documents can expedite interactions with ICE, and consulting an immigration attorney before travel is advised to assess individual risks; immigrant parents are encouraged to designate temporary guardians for their children if detained.