The Transportation Security Administration has referred more than 800 people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for arrest at US airports since the current administration took office, according to a Reuters investigation that reveals a significant shift in how federal agencies coordinate on immigration enforcement.The cooperation between TSA and ICE represents a notable operational change at the nation's airports, where security screeners traditionally focused narrowly on aviation safety threats rather than immigration status. The new coordination has effectively turned airport security checkpoints into immigration enforcement zones, according to immigration attorneys and civil liberties advocates.Under the arrangement, TSA officers conducting routine security screenings identify travelers who may be in the country illegally or have outstanding immigration violations, then alert ICE agents who make arrests—often in secure areas beyond the checkpoints where few witnesses are present."This is a fundamental shift in TSA's mission," said one former Department of Homeland Security official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "For years, the policy was to keep TSA focused on bombs and weapons, not immigration status. This changes that bright line."The coordination began shortly after the current administration issued executive orders expanding immigration enforcement priorities. According to federal officials, TSA officers now routinely check passenger information against immigration databases during the screening process, a step that wasn't standard practice under previous administrations.The arrests have occurred at airports across the country, from major hubs like Los Angeles and Miami to smaller regional facilities. In many cases, individuals were attempting to board domestic flights when they were detained. Under US law, domestic air travel does not require citizenship or legal residency, though passengers must present identification.Immigration advocates argue the TSA-ICE coordination has created a chilling effect on travel for immigrant communities, with some individuals now afraid to fly even for family emergencies or business purposes. Several civil liberties organizations are exploring legal challenges to the practice."People who are simply trying to visit family or travel for work are now being picked up at airports," said an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. "This turns every airport into an immigration dragnet."Supporters of the enhanced coordination point out that all agencies within the Department of Homeland Security—including both TSA and ICE—have a mandate to enforce federal law, including immigration statutes. They argue that having federal officers ignore violations they encounter would be inconsistent with their oaths.The policy also highlights the practical challenges facing both agencies. TSA, primarily focused on preventing terrorism and aviation threats, has been drawn into broader immigration enforcement despite limited training in that area. ICE, meanwhile, has leveraged TSA's screening presence at every commercial airport to expand its enforcement reach.The issue has received limited attention in despite its significance, largely overshadowed by debates over border security and larger immigration policy questions. However, some lawmakers are now asking for classified briefings on the arrangement and its legal basis.As Americans like to say, 'all politics is local'—even in the nation's capital. And airports are perhaps the most local venues in the federal system, where millions of ordinary Americans interact with federal agents every day. The question of what role those agents should play in immigration enforcement goes to the heart of how the government balances security, civil liberties, and immigration policy.The coordination between TSA and ICE is likely to continue generating controversy as more details emerge about how the arrangement works in practice. For now, immigrant communities and their advocates are warning travelers to be aware that airport security screenings may lead to immigration consequences beyond anything related to flight safety.