ICE Arrests at Airports, Bond Hearings Blocked: News Today
You're at the airport, boarding pass in hand — and ICE agents are waiting. That scenario is becoming more common across the US, as ICE now uses TSA screening data to identify and arrest immigrants at airports nationwide. At the same time, courts are pushing back on the government's detention policies, and tens of thousands of migrant children may have just lost their only lawyers.
ICE Is Using TSA Data to Make Arrests at Airports
Former acting ICE director John Sandweg said in an interview with CNN that ICE is "mining" TSA data to "pad" its arrest statistics. In plain terms: when you show ID to get through airport security, that information may now be used to flag and arrest immigrants. This collaboration between ICE and TSA is driving a wave of immigration arrests at airports across the country, according to CNN, Truthout, ABC7, and CBS News.
At the same time, ICE is expanding its detention network. The private prison company Geo Group signed a deal with ICE to build a 1,300-bed detention facility in North Carolina — one of the largest on the East Coast. Geo Group estimates the facility will generate $80 million in its first year. And new ICE detention contracts now include language saying that state and local laws "shall not apply" to these facilities. WIRED reported that ICE published this language just one day after a judge ordered a Tacoma, Washington ICE jail to open its doors to state health inspectors.
Deportation Defense Checklist — Free
Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
Courts Block Mandatory Detention — But the Fight Continues
The Seventh and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals both ruled against the Trump administration's policy of refusing bond hearings (a legal process where a judge decides if a detained person can be released while their case is pending) to people in immigration detention. These two courts joined four others that have already ruled the same way — making this the fifth and sixth time this policy has lost in appeals courts, according to The New Republic. Despite these rulings, the administration has not stopped enforcing the policy in all cases, so people in detention should not assume they will automatically get a hearing.
The asylum system is also under severe pressure. Asylum approvals have hit a historic low of 2% in 2026, according to NPR. Attorneys and advocates told POLITICO that asylum seekers are receiving late or no notification about a new $100 asylum fee — and missing that payment can mean automatic denial of their application. Separately, contracts that have funded legal representation for migrant children since 2003 expired, potentially cutting off around 24,000 children facing deportation from nonprofit legal help, according to El País and the LA Times.
What to Do
- If you are detained at an airport or anywhere else, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an immigration lawyer. Do not sign any documents before speaking with an attorney.
- If you or someone you know is in ICE detention, ask immediately about a bond hearing. Six federal appeals courts have now ruled that the government must provide these hearings — an immigration attorney can help you request one.
- If you filed an asylum application (Form I-589), check your mail and email daily for any notice about the $100 asylum fee. Missing this payment may result in automatic denial of your case.
- If you are a migrant child or know one facing deportation without a lawyer, contact a local nonprofit immigration legal services organization as soon as possible — the loss of federally funded representation makes private and nonprofit help more critical than ever.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Appealing to the BIA”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Six federal circuit courts have now ruled that ICE must provide bond hearings to detained immigrants — that is a significant legal protection you can invoke if you are detained. If you or a family member is being held without a bond hearing, an attorney can file an emergency habeas corpus petition (a court order demanding your release or a hearing) in federal court. The $100 asylum fee situation is especially urgent: if you have not received a payment notice, do not assume you are exempt — contact an immigration attorney immediately to verify your application status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE arrest me at a domestic airport even if I have a valid visa or work permit?
Yes. ICE can arrest anyone they believe is in violation of immigration law, including at airports. Having a visa or work permit (EAD) does not guarantee you won't be questioned or detained. Always carry your immigration documents and know your right to remain silent and request an attorney.
What is a bond hearing in immigration detention, and am I entitled to one?
A bond hearing is a proceeding where an immigration judge decides whether you can be released from detention while your case continues. Six federal appeals courts have ruled that the government must provide these hearings. If you are detained and have not been offered one, an immigration attorney can go to court to demand it.
I applied for asylum. What happens if I miss the $100 fee payment?
Missing the $100 asylum fee payment can lead to automatic denial of your asylum application (Form I-589). Attorneys report that some applicants are not receiving proper notice. Check your mail and any USCIS online account regularly, and contact an immigration lawyer if you are unsure whether you owe this fee.
My child is in immigration proceedings and just lost their nonprofit lawyer. What do I do?
Contact local nonprofit immigration legal organizations in your area immediately — many still operate with private or state funding even after the federal contracts expired. You can also search for free legal help through the Immigration Advocates Network directory at immigrationadvocates.org. Do not miss any court dates while searching for a new attorney.