The administration announced a surge in airport immigration arrests as ICE and TSA expand data-sharing to target visa overstays.
The administration announced a significant expansion in immigration enforcement at U.S. airports, shifting from a focus on criminal records to a broader crackdown on civil violations like visa overstays. Under President Trump, the administration has prioritized arresting foreign nationals who are in a legal gray area, such as those with pending applications or work permits. This shift is made possible by a new data-sharing agreement between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allows the agency to identify and detain individuals in secured locations with advance notice. Data shows that airport arrests have increased more than fivefold since the start of the administration. For example, Chicago O'Hare International Airport saw a massive jump in arrests compared to previous years. While some critics argue that an expired visa does not always mean a person is