United States President Donald Trump has intensified his administration’s immigration enforcement campaign, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers reportedly arresting foreign nationals with expired visas at airports across the country, according to a report by The New York Times.
The reported operations have taken place at check-in counters, boarding gates and arrival terminals in at least 15 airports in recent weeks, marking a broader approach to immigration enforcement that now affects some travellers who are still pursuing legal pathways to remain in the United States.
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Those reportedly targeted include spouses of US citizens, skilled foreign workers awaiting visa extensions, former exchange visitors and migrants with pending immigration applications.
The airport operations represent an expansion of cooperation between ICE and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Previously, the enforcement effort largely focused on individuals with existing deportation orders, but the new approach reportedly includes some people whose visas have expired while they await decisions on applications for continued legal status.
Internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents reviewed by The New York Times reportedly show that the programme has widened to cover a broader group of visa overstayers, including individuals who may have active cases before immigration authorities.
A DHS spokesperson defended the enforcement measures, saying the administration was committed to ensuring immigration laws were followed.
“This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport,” the spokesperson said.
The department did not confirm whether the airport enforcement initiative had been formally expanded nationwide.
The reported arrests come as the Trump administration increases pressure on immigration agencies to raise enforcement numbers.
According to The New York Times, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has set a target of approximately 2,000 immigration arrests per day.
Immigration lawyers have raised concerns about the impact on people who are not facing criminal allegations but are waiting for decisions on asylum applications, work visa renewals or permanent residency petitions.
Many foreign nationals who overstay visas remain in uncertain legal situations while their applications are processed.
Some continue to hold valid work permits or other authorisations while awaiting decisions from immigration authorities.
Among the cases highlighted was Chantal Morales Rojas, a 27-year-old Ecuadorian former au pair who was reportedly detained while attempting to board a domestic flight.
Her visa had expired, but she had a pending immigration application and work authorisation.
Another reported case involved a Ugandan woman with sickle cell anaemia who was detained despite having an active asylum application.
Immigration attorney Charles Kuck described the reported enforcement approach as unusual compared with previous practices.
“In 38 years practising immigration law, I had never seen this,” Kuck said. “And I know it’s happening to lots of people.”
The latest measures form part of President Trump’s wider immigration agenda, which has focused on increasing deportations, strengthening border enforcement and expanding interior immigration operations.
Supporters of the policy argue that stricter enforcement is necessary to uphold US immigration laws and discourage overstaying visas.
Critics, including some immigration advocates and legal professionals, argue that targeting people with pending applications could create uncertainty for individuals attempting to regularise their status through established legal processes.
Also read: US suspends routine visa processing in Abuja, 24 African missions
The developments come amid a broader national debate over the balance between immigration enforcement and protections for migrants navigating the US legal system.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
