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The United States has activated an unprecedented surveillance network against undocumented immigrants. Internal documents reveal that two pillars of the federal government—the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)—are providing personal data directly to ICE to bolster a strategy of mass deportation.
TSA, Secure Flight, and the submission of data for all travelers
Under the federal regulations of the Secure Flight program, airlines are required to collect full name, date of birth, and other sensitive information from each passenger, and submit it to the TSA for automatic checks against the watchlists of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The program's own privacy notices detail that this information may be shared with other security agencies when permitted by DHS regulations. What has not been known until now is the extent of that exchange.
Secret Program: TSA Sends Complete Passenger Lists to ICE
According to documents cited by The New York Times, since March, the TSA has been providing ICE, several times a week, complete lists of all travelers who will pass through U.S. airports.
The objective: to compare them with the database of individuals with final deportation orders.
The DHS has acknowledged that this practice is an "extension" of previous agreements and has made clear the political focus of the operation: to prevent undocumented immigrants from flying within the country, except for the purpose of "self-deportation."
IRS–ICE: tax data and addresses to expedite deportations
On April 7, 2025, the IRS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ICE that allows immigration to request names, addresses, and certain tax data of individuals with deportation orders or under investigation for immigration violations.
Experts indicate that the agreement breaks with the historical tax confidentiality in the United States. Additionally, parts of the document remain censored, so the full extent of the information flow to ICE is not known.
How databases are connected to track migrants
The Secure Flight program documents describe a database designed to automatically cross-reference with other DHS systems. This allows TSA and ICE to combine: updated lists of travelers, deportation databases, and now also addresses and tax records obtained through the agreement with the IRS.
The result is a highly accurate tracking system that generates detention “leads” at airports and provides ICE with a nearly complete map of the movements and residences of immigrants with deportation orders.
There is no way to completely avoid that tracking if you purchase a ticket, but you can reduce the risk and better prepare yourself
Risks of flying
TSA periodically shares the names and information of all travelers with ICE, which has already led to the arrest of individuals with deportation orders or unresolved immigration cases at airports
The government's stated objective is that those without legal status only use the plane to leave the country, which turns the system into a mechanism of pressure and intimidation
How to reduce risks
Before flying, consult a lawyer or support organization to find out if you have a final deportation order, open cases, or any background that may draw attention to you. Prepare an emergency plan (contacts, essential documents, instructions for your family) in case you are detained.
If you still decide to travel by plane, use a document accepted by TSA that matches your ticket, but be aware that presenting a foreign passport or another ID may confirm that you are not a citizen or resident without preventing data sharing with ICE
Alternatives and rights
When possible, groups recommend prioritizing ground transportation for domestic routes and avoiding areas close to the border and states that are very cooperative with ICE, where controls are more frequent
At airports within the country, if approached by ICE or police, you retain basic rights: you can remain silent, request an attorney, and not sign documents without guidance; several organizations provide guides “Know Your Rights” specifically for these situations.
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