More than a dozen workers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they arrived for their shifts. According to the local union, Unite Here Local 17, which represents over 6,000 hospitality workers in the Minneapolis area, these apprehensions occurred during a three-week operation aimed at increasing oversight at the airport.
The operation includes ICE agents stationed throughout the airport, including at jetbridges and inside terminals, to check the documentation of both travelers and airport employees. This increased enforcement comes amid a broader push in the Minneapolis area, which has seen civil unrest in recent years.
Several workers, mainly in hospitality roles, were reportedly taken by ICE agents shortly after clearing TSA security. Wade Luneburg, political director of Unite Here Local 17, stated in an interview with CBS News that many of those detained had passed background checks and held legal work authorization.
“They came through the TSA line, and then were quickly detained by ICE or Border Patrol, or some other law enforcement agency. [It was] on the back-end of security and they were just taken away,” Luneburg remarked.
Expanded ICE Presence at MSP Airport
A leaked memo obtained by FOX 9 MSP has revealed further details regarding ICE’s enhanced activities at MSP. The operation not only involves document checks but also broader stop-and-search procedures across the airport. Although U.S. citizens are not legally required to present identification to ICE agents, they have been advised to comply to minimize the risk of detention.
Reports suggest that even legitimate forms of identification, such as a Real ID, have been dismissed as fake, leading to wrongful detentions. Such actions have raised concerns about the constitutionality of ICE’s operations, particularly regarding the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
MSP Airport, a major hub for Delta Air Lines, processes over 37 million passengers annually. Travelers flying through the airport have been warned to expect potential document checks and questioning as part of ICE’s initiative. Starting in May 2025, travelers without a Real ID or an approved identification may face additional fees, delays, or even denied boarding at TSA checkpoints.
National Response to Immigration Enforcement
The recent activities of ICE agents at MSP have sparked significant national debate. Federal agents are authorized to access airport facilities, but the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has clarified that its Airport Police Department does not receive prior notice of ICE operations and does not coordinate with them.
In recent weeks, MSP has also seen an increase in deportation flights, rising from one or two per week to approximately two daily flights, according to MPR News. This surge has prompted large protests at the airport as community members express their concerns over the enforcement practices of ICE.
As the situation evolves, the implications of ICE’s expanded presence at MSP Airport continue to be a point of contention among workers, travelers, and advocacy groups alike.