06 Aug Do not travel by airlines if you only have work permit

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly expanded operations at domestic airports.

Expanded Scope of Arrests

• From Criminal Records to Civil Violations: ICE operations at airports initially focused on individuals with outstanding removal orders or criminal records. Recent reports highlight a shift toward targeting individuals for civil immigration infractions, such as visa overstays or expired documentation.
• Affected Travelers: Individuals with pending green card/visa applications, temporary work permits, or non-citizen spouses of U.S. citizens traveling on domestic flights have been detained.
  
  

Increased TSA-ICE Data Sharing

• Operational Mechanism: Under a formal information-sharing agreement, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passes flight itinerary leads to ICE. When non-citizen passenger data flags potential civil status issues, TSA notifies ICE agents, who then interdict and arrest individuals within secure terminal areas or at gate locations.

Local and Political Reactions

• City Responses: Local officials and sanctuary cities (e.g., San Francisco) have emphasized that municipal police forces do not assist in federal civil immigration enforcement inside airport terminals, though federal jurisdiction permits ICE presence.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Stance: DHS states the policy change aims to prevent non-citizens lacking legal status from utilizing domestic air transit, encouraging self-deportation or processing for removal.

Note: This is not legal advice

Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He has practiced immigration law, bankruptcy, and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/ with offices in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.