If you’re traveling through Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), don’t be surprised if you’re subjected to a new kind of document check…
ICE will be patrolling MSP Airport for the next three weeks
FOX 9 MSP reports that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be expanding their presence at MSP Airport over the next three weeks, further escalating the tensions we’re seeing in Minnesota at the moment.
ICE is expected to start checking the documents of travelers and workers at MSP, including in the terminal and on jet bridges. This is all according to a document that was shared by an airport worker. The airport hasn’t publicly confirmed this, stating only that federal rules give ICE agents “broad access” to airport property.
US citizens aren’t required to show identification to ICE agents, but of course we’ve seen US citizens detained by ICE over time, so that’s not exactly foolproof. Furthermore, green card holders are required to have ID on them at all times.
Keep in mind that in order to get airside at an airport, passengers need to present a passport or REAL ID, which is intended to prove citizenship (not that it’s the primary intent for an airport security check, but…).
This represents an escalation of previous ICE tactics
As mentioned above, ICE agents have broad authority when it comes to accessing airports. For example, recently I covered how the TSA is sharing passenger lists with ICE, with the intent of facilitating deportation arrests.
However, it sounds like the operation at MSP will be much more involved, with ICE checking travel documents more broadly, rather than with a target on a specific person.
We’ve certainly seen United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offices on jet bridges of arriving and departing international flights, but that’s very different, since it’s typically based on specific information, and is also limited to international flights, where they specifically have authority. So to see this impacting employees and domestic travelers represents a new level of surveillance.
This is all pretty unprecedented, not that we should be surprised…
Bottom line
As if tensions weren’t high enough in Minnesota as it is, ICE will now reportedly patrol MSP Airport, including jet bridges, to request IDs from passengers and employees. US citizens aren’t required to show ID to ICE agents, but that’s not to say that they couldn’t try to escalate things.
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