Last December we reported on indications that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had begun passing on information from airline reservations to Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to enable targeting of domestic airline passengers for seizure and deportation. Ten days later, our report was confirmed by the New York Times.

In January, it was reported that ICE planned to set up immigration checkpoints for passengers on jetways at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). That hasn’t happened, but the possibility prompted us to review some of the legal issues it raised.

Now President Trump has announced that starting Monday, March 23rd, ICE agents will be assigned to take over some of the work of TSA checkpoint staff, further merging and conflating the unrelated functions of aviation security and immigration enforcement.

What are your rights, especially as an airline passenger traveling within the US rather than seeking to enter or leave the country, if a checkpoint at the airport is staffed by ICE agents instead of, or in addition to, the usual TSA staff or TSA contractors?

Read More →