Logan Airport Loses Immigrant Workers Amid Trump Administration Rule Changes

(BOSTON) Boston Logan International Airport is seeing a sharp shift in who can work and who can pass through its gates, as stepped-up federal enforcement and new state shelter limits collide at one of New England’s busiest travel hubs.

Since early 2025, immigration attorneys and advocates say ICE detentions at Logan have risen, with some non-citizens held or even removed after international trips despite holding valid status. At the same time, the state ended overnight stays for migrant families at the airport on July 9, 2024, changing how families in crisis seek help. Together, these moves are reshaping daily life at Logan Airport, prompting employers to rethink staffing, and pushing immigrant workers to weigh the risks of travel and job shifts under President Trump’s renewed focus on enforcement.

What travelers and workers are facing

Attorneys in New England describe a climate of tougher checks and more unpredictable outcomes for travelers who are not U.S. citizens, including long-time residents with work visas or green cards.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the change has created a new layer of risk for routine international trips: workers who fly out for a family emergency now worry about coming back through the same terminal where they’ve worked for years. In March 2025, lawyers documented at least two cases at Logan where legal immigrants were denied re-entry despite valid documents, with one person deported.

They warn that even people with steady jobs, clean records, and lawful status can face extended questioning, secondary screening, and, in some cases, detention.

Rising detentions and enforcement patterns

Reports from legal aid groups indicate that detention counts at the Strafford County Jail—used as a regional holding center—have climbed since January 2025, tracking broader federal enforcement goals.

• ICE and CBP have expanded their focus at Logan to include people with and without status.
• This has translated for airport workers into:
  • Missed shifts and sudden travel cancellations
  • Fear of re-entry problems after trips abroad
  • Applicants pulling back from airport jobs or asking for roles without travel exposure

Supervisors in security, concessions, and ground services confirm it’s harder to recruit and retain foreign-born staff, as some applicants now seek positions that avoid international travel.

State shelter policy changes and effects

The Healey-Driscoll administration ended overnight stays for migrant families at Logan on July 9, 2024, citing the strain on the state’s emergency shelter system and the need to keep the airport functioning smoothly.

• The state now routes families through the Emergency Assistance program and “safety-net” sites, including a Norfolk facility with space for up to 140 families.
• Officials say they are working to move people from short-term sites into permanent homes faster; nearly 300 families left emergency shelters for stable housing in May 2024 alone.
• Scott Rice, the state’s Emergency Assistance Director, said: “Massachusetts is out of shelter space,” urging new arrivals to plan for housing before coming.

Operations staff say the policy shift has reduced strain on terminals and rest areas. Parents who once tried to catch a few hours of sleep in arrivals now work with case managers and state contractors to secure placements away from the airport.

Key shelter policy points

• End of overnight stays at Logan: July 9, 2024
• New safety-net capacity: Norfolk site (up to 140 families)
• Reported moves into permanent housing: ~300 families in May 2024
• State Emergency Assistance phone: 1-866-584-0653
• Apply/details: Massachusetts Emergency Assistance

Employer responses and operational impacts

For workers in and around the airport, the mix of stricter federal checks and a crowded shelter system has clear effects.

• Some foreign-born staff now ask to avoid travel that risks CBP interviews on return.
• Others quietly leave jobs after trips abroad for fear they will not be allowed back.
• Employers are:
  • Building backup rosters
  • Training more supervisors on short notice
  • Pairing new hires with mentors to cover shifts

These measures raise costs and reduce experienced staff in roles that keep the airport running smoothly. Even small staffing gaps can slow baggage handling, wheelchair service, or food prep in busy terminals.

Practical advice for travelers and workers

Attorneys urge all non-citizens to prepare carefully before traveling through Logan:

• Carry all original immigration documents and keep them together:
  • Passport
  • Visa
  • Green card (if applicable)
  • Work authorization
  • Any notices of action for pending applications
• Be ready to answer basic questions clearly and calmly:
  • How long were you abroad?
  • Where do you work?
  • Do you have any pending immigration cases?
• If you have a pending case or past immigration problem, speak with an attorney before traveling.
• If detained:
  • Ask to speak with a lawyer
  • Do not sign papers without legal advice
• Helpful contacts and resources:
  • ICE Boston Field Office listings: ICE Boston Field Office
  • Local nonprofits and bar groups: MIRA Coalition, AILA New England

Families arriving at Logan without a place to sleep should apply through the state’s Emergency Assistance program rather than staying at the airport. The state’s process is described at Massachusetts Emergency Assistance and live help is available at 1-866-584-0653.

Risks for permanent residents and visa holders

Legal groups specifically warn green card holders and long-time visa holders about travel risks in the current environment:

• If you’ve been outside the country for an extended time or have past criminal issues—even minor—you should get legal advice before traveling.
• Secondary inspection can take hours and may affect:
  • Your job
  • Housing
  • Family stability
• Bring originals of:
  • Physical green card and any reentry permit
  • Visa foil and supporting letters (employment, school)

Advocacy, due process concerns, and community response

Advocacy groups warn about civil rights implications: sudden detentions of people with valid documents can split families and push lawful workers out of jobs.

• Volunteer organizations at the airport try to connect people to counsel quickly, but the pace of detentions can leave families scrambling.
• The tension reflects a broader dynamic:
  • The United States 🇺🇸 enforces federal immigration law
  • Massachusetts manages limited shelter space, schooling, and health needs for arrivals

Community volunteers offer help at arrival gates, waiting rooms, and chapels—sometimes reuniting travelers after long interviews, and sometimes finding emergency shelter options for families late at night.

How employers can reduce stress and disruption

Airlines and contractors cannot decide who gets admitted, but they can support staff:

• Provide clear information and flexible scheduling
• Offer short trainings on what workers can expect at re-entry
• Keep lists of legal aid contacts for employees
• Cross-train staff and create backup rosters

Small workplace steps help employees feel less alone in a confusing, fast-moving system.

What to expect going forward

The picture at Logan is complex but shows clear trends:

• Federal enforcement tightened in 2025, producing longer checks and more ICE referrals, even for some with legal status.
• State shelter policy shifted in 2024, ending overnight stays and moving families into managed placements and safety-net sites.
• Employers are coping with fewer experienced hands and greater scheduling uncertainty.

For travelers and workers, the best tools are simple:

1. Carry your papers.
2. Plan ahead.
3. Know whom to call if things go sideways.

For families, the state’s Emergency Assistance system is the primary resource. More information on airport services is available at Massport: Logan Airport. For immigration enforcement questions, see the ICE listings at ICE Boston Field Office. For shelter assistance apply at Massachusetts Emergency Assistance or call 1-866-584-0653. Community volunteers and organizations such as MIRA Coalition can help with donations and volunteer efforts.

Key takeaway: Logan Airport now functions as both workplace and checkpoint—where a badge opens access to the ramp, but a passport can change everything at the border.

Every day the human consequences play out in small scenes: a barista arriving early to meet a relative but fearing re-entry; a ramp crew juggling shifts because a colleague was pulled into secondary inspection; a family loading into a van bound for a safety-net site instead of sleeping in the terminal. Those are the ripple effects of national and state policy choices—seen one arrival and one shift at a time.