Congresswoman Ramirez Leads Congressional Inquiry Into TSA Data Sharing, ICE Enforcement at Airports

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Ranking Member of a Subcommittee on the Homeland Security Committee, led 28 colleagues in opening an investigation into a new data-sharing agreement between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that has resulted in a spike in immigration enforcement activities at airports across the country. In the inquiry, the members raise the possibility of violations of privacy and civil liberties, as well as safety concerns, for all U.S. residents and international visitors traveling through airports. The letter was co-led by Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) - Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee, Congressman Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

The inquiry directed to the Department of Homeland Security follows American Oversight obtaining a partially redacted memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in May 2025 that formalized a new data-sharing partnership between TSA and ICE. The agreement documents that TSA is sharing personally identifiable information, including passenger names and birth dates, and other data with ICE to conduct immigration enforcement, contradicting former Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill's sworn congressional testimony that TSA does not send such information to ICE.

"Handing travelers' private information over to immigration officers for the purposes of conducting immigration enforcement without warrants or due process violates long-standing safeguards meant to protect the safety and rights of the American people. TSA must acknowledge the dangerous precedent associated with forging secret agreements that allow the government to expand how it uses residents' personal information absent consent, guardrails, transparency, or oversight," wrote the Members. "The consequences of such action reach far beyond immigration and raise profound concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and public trust. TSA and ICE must change course immediately."

According to a Reuters report, as of April 2026, TSA reportedly shared the personal information of more than 31,000 travelers with ICE, which led to more than 800 immigration-related arrests. Since TSA and ICE have not publicly disclosed the unredacted information-sharing agreement, it remains unclear how information is shared and why immigrants are targeted for arrest.

The department has until September 7, 2026, to provide details about the agreement and its effect on immigration enforcement and travelers' privacy.

The letter was signed by Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), John Garamendi (CA-08), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

For the full text of the letter, CLICK HERE.