Representative Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has introduced legislation that would prohibit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from sharing air traveler data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), drawing sharp criticism from the TSA.
The "No TSA Data for ICE Act" seeks to halt the use of passenger screening records, travel histories, and personally identifiable information obtained by the TSA, including data purchased from private brokers, for immigration enforcement purposes. Tlaib stated that the TSA is complicit in ICE's actions, enabling agents to target immigrant communities at airports and fulfill arrest quotas. "Immigrants should be able to safely fly in this country without the fear of arrest or deportation," Tlaib said in a statement.
A TSA spokesperson condemned the bill, arguing that it would weaken the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) ability to protect against terrorist threats. "As we approach the 25th anniversary of the horrific terror attacks of 9/11, it’s not shocking that some in the Democrat Party would want to neuter the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to protect Americans from terrorists," the spokesperson said. The agency also raised concerns about empowering "enemies to attack the U.S. again" by creating information silos that could lead to security blind spots.
The proposed legislation would also prevent DHS from barring individuals from trusted traveler programs, such as TSA PreCheck, based on their First Amendment-protected activities, like participation in protests or criticism of the administration.
Democrats have largely criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. This legislative effort comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding immigration crackdowns, which previously contributed to a lengthy government shutdown over DHS funding. The TSA's data-sharing practices with ICE have been a point of contention, with Tlaib asserting that an information-sharing agreement signed in 2025 facilitates "easy targets" for ICE arrests at airports.
The bill faces a challenging path forward, with little expectation of a vote in the Republican-controlled Congress. If enacted, however, it could significantly impede the coordination of immigration enforcement activities across different DHS entities. The legislation aims to protect noncitizens from arrest or deportation while traveling through U.S. airports.