Airports are now part of the administration’s broader show of force. According to The Washington Post, ICE officers were sent to at least 14 airports in March, officially to help with crowd control, exit lanes, and line management during TSA staffing shortages. They were not supposed to check IDs or screen passengers. However, their presence still raised obvious concerns because, as immigration lawyers told the Post, ICE officers in an airport still carry the same authority they would have in any other public place.

That means this is the practical question travelers need to answer before they leave for the airport: what can they legally do, what can they not do, and how can they protect themselves and their loved ones without making a bad situation worse?

First, know who you may be dealing with

At airports, you may encounter TSA officers, local airport police, ICE officers, Customs and Border Protection officers, or Homeland Security Investigations agents. The ACLU’s airport enforcement guide notes that at the border or ports of entry, you are especially likely to encounter CBP and sometimes HSI, which is part of ICE.

TSA’s role is security screening. ICE’s role is immigration enforcement. CBP’s authority is broader at ports of entry than ICE’s is in an ordinary domestic airport setting. According to the Post, if ICE officers are simply standing in an airport in their capacity as ICE agents, they have the same authority they would have in any public place, not some magical airport superpower.

The biggest thing to understand: there are no ICE-free zones in the airport

The Post reports that ICE can approach travelers anywhere in the airport, not just at the checkpoint. That includes the terminal, the security line, the gate, or a coffee line. The practical advice from immigration attorney Nicole Hallett: stay aware of your surroundings the entire time you are there, not just while going through security.

For undocumented people, the risk is higher. The ACLU’s guide says noncitizens without current legal status should consider the risks of flying, including on domestic flights, and notes that TSA has provided lists of travelers to ICE.

If ICE approaches you, do not run and do not volunteer more than you have to

According to the Post, if an ICE officer approaches you and starts asking questions, the safest immediate move is not to run. Running may escalate the encounter. Instead, you can calmly say that you are exercising your right to remain silent.

For domestic travel, the Post also notes that, by law, you do not have to carry proof that you are a U.S. citizen or lawful resident. That said, if you are a noncitizen with lawful status and fear profiling, carrying documentation may help resolve an encounter more quickly.

The ACLU’s airport rights guide adds an important distinction. U.S. citizens generally only need to answer questions establishing identity and citizenship. Lawful permanent residents usually only need to answer questions establishing identity and permanent residency. Visa holders and visitors face more risk if they refuse to answer questions, especially at the border.

ICE cannot automatically search your phone just because you are in an airport

According to the Post, ICE officers at an airport cannot, without a warrant, search your carry-on, phone, or laptop simply because they are present in the airport. They can conduct only those kinds of searches if they are acting under the authority of the agency that has that search power in that setting, such as TSA at a domestic checkpoint or CBP at a port of entry.

But at the border, the legal terrain gets much worse. The ACLU’s airport guide says customs officers sometimes ask travelers to unlock devices or provide passwords when entering or leaving the United States. U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing, though refusal may lead to delays or the seizure of a device. Lawful permanent residents should generally not be denied entry, though delays and confiscation can still occur. Visa holders and tourists face a greater risk if they refuse. If an officer confiscates a phone or laptop, the ACLU says to get a receipt.

So protect your devices before you travel

According to The Intercept, there are a few key things to keep in mind regarding digital security, especially for journalists, organizers, immigrants, or anyone carrying sensitive information.

They suggest that before you leave:

1. Use a strong alphanumeric passcode, not Face ID or fingerprint unlock.

2. Turn biometrics off entirely.

3. Power your phone fully down before security. Do not just lock it.

4. Carry a paper boarding pass if possible, so you do not need to power the device back on in line.

5. Log out of apps you do not need.

6. Delete sensitive chats, files, and contacts from the device you are traveling with.

7. If possible, travel with a clean secondary device instead of your primary phone.

The reasoning is: if authorities get access to your device, the safest device is the one that contains as little as possible. The Intercept also warns that if you refuse to unlock a device, you may be delayed, hassled, or have the device confiscated. That does not mean you lose the right to refuse, but you should prepare for the consequences in advance.

TSA still has limits, too

The ACLU’s airport guide makes clear that TSA officers can screen you and your belongings, but they cannot arrest you. They may search bags further, even if the first screening shows nothing suspicious. Still, they may not select you for a personal search or secondary inspection based on religion, race, national origin, gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs.

If you wear a religious head covering, the ACLU says you have the right to wear it through screening. If TSA insists on further screening, you can request that any pat-down or removal happen in a private area and, where relevant, by someone of your gender.

If you are traveling with children, the ACLU notes that children can opt out of an airport scanner, though there is no blanket exemption from pat-downs. Children under 13 may keep shoes, light jackets, and headwear on during screening. If you are carrying breast milk or formula, TSA must allow it in quantities larger than the standard liquid limit, though it may be inspected or tested.

If you are delayed for a long time, say so clearly

The ACLU guide says that if questioning becomes intrusive or improper, you can ask to speak to a supervisor. If you are being detained for an unusually long period, you should ask to contact an attorney or a legal services organization. If an officer tells you that you are under arrest, or it becomes clear they suspect you of a crime, ask for a lawyer before answering more questions. If you want to invoke your right to remain silent, say it out loud.

What families should do before they leave home:

1. Have one folder, physical or digital, with the documents you may need.

2. Memorize or write down at least one emergency phone number.

3. Decide in advance who will be called if someone is detained.

4. Tell your loved ones your flight number, route, and departure and arrival times.

5. If someone in your family is undocumented or has a precarious status, talk honestly about the risk before traveling at all.

Quick note: This is safety planning and general legal info, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city, and cops do not always respect rights in the street. The point is to protect you now and help you protect yourself later if anything goes sideways.

1) The three phrases to memorise before you leave the house

If an officer approaches you, don’t improvise. Keep it simple. The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) emphasises that “invoking your rights” means saying a few key phrases out loud.

Say:

• “Am I free to go?” If they say yes, you can leave.

• “I am going to remain silent, and I want to speak to a lawyer.” Repeat it as many times as you need.

• “I do not consent to this search.” Say it clearly. Silence can get framed as consent.

One important exception: In 23 states, you may have to give your name if asked during a stop.

2) Before you go: make a plan that protects your loved ones, too

If you think an arrest is possible, have an on-call person who does not attend the protest.

Set up a 60-second safety plan:

• Pick one person to be your “anchor.”

• Text them: where you’re going, who you’re with, and when you expect to be home.

• Share: your full legal name, DOB, and any medical needs.

• Make sure someone can cover: kids, pets, keys, and essential bills if you get stuck.

• Write your anchor’s number on paper, and if you feel it’s necessary, on your body in marker.

A caution worth hearing: written “pre-arrest” forms can be used as evidence of intent in some cases. A standing plan with one trusted person can be safer than filling out formal-looking paperwork.

3) What to bring, and what to leave at home

You want to be able to move, breathe, and get home.

Bring:

• Water and a snack

• Any needed meds in the original prescription bottle, and only what you need for the day

• A small charger or battery bank

• A mask, goggles, and weather layers

• Cash (small bills) and a physical ID if you carry one

Do not bring:

• Anything you cannot afford to lose. An arrest often means your belongings get taken, recorded, and returned later, only with a property voucher.

• Valuables and jewellery

• Anything illegal, including items that could be labelled a weapon

• Anything you do not want cops to see, including notes about routes, organisers, or private info

Makeup and contacts: contact lenses can become stuck, and oil-based moisturisers can make irritants harder to wash off. Glasses can be safer.

4) Digital safety: don’t hand them your whole life in one unlocked phone

Police usually need a warrant to search devices, but in real life, phones still get searched. So you plan for friction.

Do this before you arrive:

• Use a passcode, not Face ID or fingerprint. Biometrics can be forced.

• Consider turning off location services.

• Consider leaving your primary phone at home or using a lower-info device if you have one.

About filming:

You generally have the right to record officers as long as you do not interfere, but be strategic about it. Filming other protesters, posting their faces, or live-streaming crowds can later create evidence that harms your own people. If you capture something important, consider sharing it with an attorney rather than posting it immediately.

5) During the protest: how to stay calm when things escalate

Move like you came home to your family last night.

• Go with a buddy. Decide what “we leave” looks like before you arrive.

• If violence breaks out, walk, don’t run. Running creates a risk of crowd injury.

• If police start grabbing people nearby, you can still get arrested just for being there. Stay calm. Use your phrases.

6) If you get stopped in public

This is where your script matters most.

Step 1: Ask

• “Am I free to go?”

Step 2: If they keep you

• “I am going to remain silent, and I want to speak to a lawyer.”

Step 3: If they try to search you or your stuff

• “I do not consent to this search.”

Police can pat down the outside of your clothes, but they generally need consent or a warrant to go further. They may search anyway. Your job is to say you did not agree.

Also, police can lie to you. They can produce fake evidence, fake deals, and threats like “we’ll just get a warrant.” Don’t debate. Go back to the script.

7) If you get arrested

First: breathe. Second: protect yourself from extra charges.

Say out loud:

• “I am not resisting,” resisting can lead to severe charges even when you did nothing else wrong.

• “I am going to remain silent. I want to talk to an attorney.” Then stay quiet.

What not to do:

• Do not talk about what happened with other detainees or anyone nearby. Assume surveillance. Jail phones are recorded, and you can be recorded in custody.

• Do not accept the bait. Officers can lie, and “good cop, bad cop” is a whole tactic.

Phone call:

You can ask to make a local phone call within a “reasonable time,” though they do not always let people. If you call an attorney, the police are not supposed to listen, but keep it minimal anyway. Name, location, you need help.

8) If ICE is present, or you are worried about your status

You are not obligated to discuss your immigration history with government officers.

If you have valid immigration documents, never show fake papers. If you are a lawful permanent resident or have other status documents, make sure you carry copies, not originals, and keep originals safe with a trusted person.

9) Extra safety notes for people who get targeted more

The legal system regularly harms marginalised people, and risk is not evenly distributed.

A few specifics:

• Minors: You still have the right to remain silent. Release rules can differ by state.

• Disabled protesters: Bathroom access, sit-stand ordinances, and the risk of losing mobility aids are real. Build a buddy plan.

• Trans protesters: Pat downs and invasive searches can be traumatic and inconsistent. Policies vary, and jails often have no affirming rules. If you can, have a trans-competent attorney on standby.

10) The bottom line: fight back, but stay in control

You do not have to be fearless to show up. You just need a plan.

Save this as a checklist:

• Anchor contact set

• Script memorised

• Passcode on

• Meds in original bottle

• Buddy system

• Exit plan