The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) issued an urgent practice alert on July 27 after receiving multiple reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers are detaining non-citizens during routine domestic air travel inside the United States. According to AILA, incidents have been documented at airports in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia, with individuals removed from TSA security lanes or boarding areas for secondary questioning. Those affected include people whose lawful status has lapsed but who are in a period of authorized stay based on pending adjustment-of-status or asylum filings, as well as holders of valid employment authorization or advance parole. Attorneys say detainees are sometimes transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody even when they can show government-issued receipts for pending applications. The pattern suggests heightened interior-enforcement activity that could catch business travelers, students, and family members off-guard. For global-mobility managers and corporate travel departments, the alert underscores the need to vet the immigration status of employees before authorizing domestic travel—especially multi-segment itineraries that require ID checks at each stop. Employers should also ensure that foreign national staff carry original or readily accessible digital copies of key documents such as I-797 approval notices, Form I-485 or I-589 receipt notices, and unexpired EADs. AILA recommends that attorneys brief clients on the new enforcement trend and prepare contingency plans, including emergency legal-representation contacts. The association is collecting incident data through its online Enforcement Tracker to map hotspots and advocate for clearer DHS guidance. Travelers who lack lawful status but are in authorized periods of stay may wish to defer non-essential flights or choose ground transport until the enforcement picture stabilizes. While DHS has not publicly commented on the reports, practitioners expect the issue to surface in upcoming liaison meetings. In the meantime, mobility programs should circulate travel-readiness checklists, remind foreign workers to verify that their I-94 “Admit Until” date remains valid, and consider proactive outreach to airport CBP and TSA officials in locations with high concentrations of international assignees.
