…
World
US: DHS Orders Arrests of Undocumented Immigrants at Airports
Herz — World Desk · · 30s summary · 3 min read
The essentials
The US Department of Homeland Security has revoked the policy allowing undocumented immigrants to travel on domestic flights and has ordered their arrest at airports. According to the New York Times, 25+ people from a dozen countries have been arrested across 15+ airports from California to Virginia. ICE agents in plain clothes conduct arrests at check-in and boarding gates. The Trump administration is targeting 2,000 migration arrests daily and now includes those with pending regularization requests among its enforcement priorities.
- DHS revoked exemption policy for undocumented immigrants on domestic US flights
- 25+ people arrested across 15+ airports from California to Virginia
- ICE agents in plain clothes conduct arrests at check-in and boarding gates
- Trump administration targeting 2,000 migration arrests per day
- DHS hasn't disclosed implementation date or total number of arrests
What We Know
The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has ended the policy that allowed foreign nationals in irregular status to take domestic flights within the United States. A new directive now orders its agents to arrest them at airports.
According to the New York Times, which first reported the practice based on DHS documents and interviews with attorneys, 25+ people from a dozen countries have been arrested at 15+ airports spanning from California to Virginia. ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents in plain clothes conduct arrests during check-in or in boarding areas.
The Trump administration has set a target of 2,000 migration arrests per day. Individuals with pending regularization requests—permanent residence or status extensions—are now targeted alongside undocumented immigrants.
Documented Cases
Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas, a 27-year-old Ecuadorian, was arrested on July 20, 2026 at Denver Airport (Colorado) as she was preparing to board a Southwest Airlines flight to Oakland (California). Her attorney states she had entered the US legally and had a pending regularization request; the DHS argues she had overstayed her visa. She was released after posting bail.
Phu Nguyen, a Vietnamese national whose visa expired in 2015, was intercepted on July 13, 2026 at Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas by two plain-clothes agents, according to CNN. The agents withdrew to avoid escalation. He was arrested the next day, July 14, 2026, at Los Angeles Airport.
At San Francisco International Airport, a Ukrainian woman whose visa expired in 2011 was arrested under similar circumstances. In total, at least 11 migrants living in the San Francisco area have been detained at US airports in recent days.
Timeline
- July 13, 2026Phu Nguyen intercepted at Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas by two plain-clothes agents, who withdraw to avoid escalation.
- July 14, 2026Phu Nguyen arrested at Los Angeles Airport.
- July 20, 2026Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas arrested at Denver Airport (Colorado); released after posting bail.
The Numbers
Topics
Related articles
Latest articles
The illustrations in this article are generated by artificial intelligence.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to react.
