Archive · 29 Jul 2026
Trump Administration Arrests Visa Overstays at Airports
The Trump administration has started arresting people with expired US visas at airports, including those married to American citizens and tech workers waiting for visa extensions.
This is part of a broader deportation campaign.
The arrests are happening at check-in counters and boarding gates, with some being filmed and shared on social media.
The cooperation between the TSA and ICE, which began in May 2025, allows ICE to share names of people with deportation orders with the TSA.
The administration aims to make 2,000 immigration arrests per day, targeting not just criminals but also those with legitimate pending applications.
Immigration lawyers and advocates argue that this is unfair and disrupts air travel.
The Trump administration is arresting foreign nationals with expired visas at airports, including spouses of American citizens and tech workers.
Arrests are happening at check-in counters and boarding gates, with some incidents filmed and shared on social media.
Cooperation between TSA and ICE, which began in May 2025, allows ICE to share names of people with deportation orders with the TSA.
The administration aims to make 2,000 immigration arrests per day, targeting all visa overstays.
Immigration lawyers argue that the administration is unfairly targeting people with legitimate pending applications, including those married to American citizens.
- Who
- Foreign nationals with expired US visas, including tech workers and spouses of American citizens
- What
- Arrests at airports for visa overstays
- When
- Recent weeks, with cooperation between TSA and ICE starting in May 2025
- Where
- At least 15 airports across the US
- Why
- Trump administration's mass deportation campaign targeting all visa overstays
Immigration Advocates
Trump Administration
Targeting of Visa Overstays
Immigration Advocates
The administration is unfairly targeting people with legitimate pending applications, including those married to American citizens and those waiting for visa extensions.
Trump Administration
The administration is enforcing immigration laws by targeting all visa overstays, considering them illegal.
Impact on Air Travel
Immigration Advocates
Involving the TSA in immigration enforcement disrupts domestic air travel and creates fear among travelers.
Trump Administration
The cooperation between TSA and ICE is necessary to enforce immigration laws and ensure that those in the country illegally cannot fly unless they are leaving to self-deport.
- Agencies Involved
- TSA, ICE, Department of Homeland Security
- Target Arrests
- 2,000 per day
- Current Arrest Rate
- 1,400 per day
- Start of Cooperation
- May 2025
- Key Figures
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin
- Notable Cases
- Chantal Morales Rojas, Ugandan woman with sickle cell anemia, Australian man