US airlines resist ICE arrests on flight manifests

US airlines are resisting federal efforts to intensify immigration enforcement at airports, objecting to agents using flight manifests to arrest travellers with lapsed visas.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer attempted to board a Southwest Airlines flight in Dallas on July 25 to make an arrest but was turned away by the airline.

The report cites safety and protocol concerns raised by carriers over the enforcement tactics, including a separate case in which ICE arrested a woman on a jet bridge at Denver International Airport.