Immigration Arrests at U.S. Airports

Immigration attorneys across the country have reported an increase in noncitizens being detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at U.S. airports during domestic travel, including at regional California airports. Recent reporting from CNN, the New York Times, and other outlets describes a rise in immigration enforcement activity at more than a dozen airports across the country in recent weeks. According to these reports, agents, often in plain clothes, have detained travelers at domestic check-in counters and arrival gates, including some noncitizens whose visas had expired and, in some cases, spouses of U.S. citizens.

This is a significant development because domestic air travel has not historically been a common site of interior immigration enforcement. The reporting suggests that noncitizens with expired nonimmigrant visas, such as tourists, terminated or expiring parole (including CHNV, Uniting for Ukraine, and CBP One entrants), lapsed Temporary Protected Status or DACA, or even pending applications for lawful status may face heightened risk when traveling by air.

Certain rights apply broadly regardless of immigration status. Everyone in the United States has the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an attorney. Individuals are generally not required to answer questions about their citizenship during domestic travel. Whether and how to exercise these rights depends on individual circumstances, and organizations such as the National Immigration Law Center have published general "know your rights" travel resources.

If you or a family member has questions about immigration status, travel risk, or a pending case, these are matters you should discuss with an experienced, licensed immigration attorney who can review your specific circumstances. This post is general information about a developing news story and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Weisner Legal, APC represents clients in family-based, humanitarian, and removal defense matters, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your situation individually.