Over a dozen workers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) have been detained by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to reports from a local union. The union, Unite Here Local 17, which represents more than 6,000 workers in the Minneapolis area, indicated that several airport employees were apprehended as they arrived for their shifts.
ICE has initiated a three-week operation focused on enhanced oversight of MSP, with agents positioned throughout the airport, including on jetbridges and inside terminals. This effort is part of a wider immigration enforcement strategy in the Minneapolis area, which has seen increased civil unrest in recent years.
Apprehensions at the Airport
Reports suggest that many of the detained workers were employed in hospitality roles, such as retail and dining. Wade Luneburg, political director of Unite Here Local 17, stated that some individuals were taken into custody shortly after clearing TSA security, while others were detained on the job. The union emphasized that these workers had previously passed background checks and held valid work authorization.
“They came through the TSA line, and then were quickly detained by ICE or Border Patrol,” Luneburg told CBS News. “It was on the back-end of security and they were just taken away.”
The operation has raised concerns among workers and passengers alike. An internal memo leaked to FOX 9 MSP revealed that ICE agents would be stationed throughout the airport for the duration of the operation. While there are instances where agents may wait at jetbridges acting on known intelligence, the broader stop-and-search actions appear to be more extensive.
Although U.S. citizens are not legally required to provide identification to ICE agents, there have been instances where legitimate identification documents were dismissed as fake, leading to wrongful detentions. Many have criticized ICE’s actions as unconstitutional, particularly citing the Fourth Amendment protections against unwarranted searches.
Impact on Travel and Airport Operations
MSP serves as a significant hub for Delta Air Lines, which has alerted travelers to expect potential document checks and questioning when flying through the airport. With more than 37 million passengers traveling through MSP annually, the increased presence of ICE agents may disrupt the workflow within one of the busiest airports in the country.
Looking ahead, from May 2025, travelers without a REAL ID or approved identification may face an $18 biometric check fee, delays, or even denied boarding at TSA checkpoints. This adds another layer of complexity to the travel experience amid ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which operates MSP, has clarified that its Airport Police Department does not receive advance notice of ICE activities and does not coordinate with federal agents. Despite this, MAC acknowledges that federal agents are granted broad access to the airport’s landside and airside facilities.
Recently, MSP has also seen an uptick in deportation flights, particularly from the private terminal operated by Signature Aviation. Reports indicate that deportation flights have increased from one or two per week to approximately two daily flights, prompting large protests around the airport.
The increasing visibility of ICE operations at MSP has sparked widespread discussions about immigration policy and enforcement practices, highlighting the complexities of balancing national security with the rights of individuals and the impacts on local communities.
