TSA started handing over airplane passenger info to ICE under Trump admin orders that kicked in back in March, and the agency sends updated lists multiple times weekly so immigration enforcement can cross-check travelers against deportation databases. The partnership lets federal authorities flag people potentially in the country illegally before they board domestic flights, which marks a major shift from how things worked under previous leadership.
Homeland Security reps defended the move by saying Biden-era policies let undocumented folks fly around without consequences, and the current administration refuses to tolerate that anymore. Airlines already give TSA passenger data during booking for security screening against terror watchlists, but the agency never got involved with immigration crackdowns or criminal cases before this arrangement started.
The whole setup raises questions about privacy and civil liberties since travel security has just got merged with deportation enforcement across domestic air travel.
Homeland Security reps defended the move by saying Biden-era policies let undocumented folks fly around without consequences, and the current administration refuses to tolerate that anymore. Airlines already give TSA passenger data during booking for security screening against terror watchlists, but the agency never got involved with immigration crackdowns or criminal cases before this arrangement started.
The whole setup raises questions about privacy and civil liberties since travel security has just got merged with deportation enforcement across domestic air travel.
