A recent arrest at a major airport drew swift condemnation from Democratic lawmakers after video captured by bystanders circulated on social media, raising questions about data-sharing between the TSA and ICE.

The individuals had prior encounters with U.S. border agents, including a 2018 apprehension in Arizona and a 2019 immigration judge order for removal.

Since 2020, there has been a broad expansion of domestic data sharing between TSA and ICE, extending immigration enforcement into commercial air travel.

A DHS budget standoff worsened TSA worker absenteeism, prompting ICE officers to fill security gaps while TSA staff faced pay pauses and resignations.

A mother, Angelina Lopez Jimenez, and her nine-year-old daughter Wendy Godinez Lopez were arrested at San Francisco International Airport after TSA flagged their immigration status and travel plans.

San Francisco police helped maintain a barrier between onlookers and ICE, prompting concerns about sanctuary policies in the state.

Homeland Security declined to comment on the TSA-ICE data-sharing agreement mentioned in the report.

A New York Times report, citing federal documents, describes the Trump-era data-sharing framework and its expansion since he returned to office, with critics arguing it enables more domestic immigration arrests.

Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Doris Matsui, criticized the incident and pressed for clarity on ICE’s treatment and community impact, especially when arrests occur in public spaces.