Key Takeaways
• U.S. airlines sell detailed passenger data to DHS via Airlines Reporting Corporation since at least 2018.
• CBP and ICE access over a billion travel records covering 39 months for law enforcement uses.
• Data includes passenger names, flight itineraries, payment details shared without travelers’ consent or warrants.
A new development has come to light in the way the United States 🇺🇸 government collects and uses information about travelers. As of June 12, 2025, it has been revealed that major U.S. airlines have been quietly selling detailed passenger data—including names, flight details, and payment information—to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This information is then shared with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The process is managed through the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which acts as a middleman between airlines and travel agencies. This arrangement has raised serious questions about privacy, oversight, and the rights of travelers.
What Is Happening and Who Is Involved?
The main players in this story are:
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP): The federal agency responsible for securing U.S. borders and managing immigration.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): The agency that enforces immigration laws and investigates criminal activities related to immigration.
- Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC): A company that handles financial transactions between airlines and travel agencies and now plays a key role in sharing travel data with the government.
- Major U.S. Airlines: These companies provide the passenger data to ARC, which then passes it on to federal agencies.
The data-sharing arrangement allows CBP and ICE to access over a billion records covering 39 months of both past and future travel. This includes sensitive information such as passenger names, flight itineraries, and financial details. Federal agents can search this data by name, credit card number, or airline, making it a powerful tool for investigations.
How Does the Data Collection Work?
The process involves several steps:
- Data Collection: When you book a flight through a travel agency or directly with an airline, your information is sent to ARC. This includes your name, travel dates, destinations, and payment details.
- Data Aggregation: ARC gathers this information from many different sources, creating a massive database of travel records.
- Data Transfer: Under the Travel Intelligence Program (TIP), ARC provides this data to CBP and ICE. Federal agents can then search the database for specific information.
- Data Use: CBP and ICE use the data for law enforcement and immigration investigations. They can look up individuals by name, credit card, or airline to track travel patterns or identify people of interest.
Why Is This Happening?
The government says it needs access to travel data to help with law enforcement and national security. By tracking who is flying where and when, CBP and ICE can look for patterns that might suggest illegal activity, such as human trafficking, smuggling, or immigration violations. The data can also help identify people who may be trying to avoid detection by using different names or payment methods.
However, the way this data is being collected and used has raised concerns. Normally, when the government wants access to private information, there are legal steps in place to protect people’s rights. For example, law enforcement agencies often need a warrant or court order to get certain types of data. In this case, the use of ARC as a data broker means that federal agencies can access huge amounts of information without going through the usual legal process.
What Data Is Being Shared?
The data shared through the Airlines Reporting Corporation and the Travel Intelligence Program is extensive. It includes:
- Passenger Names: The full names of travelers.
- Flight Itineraries: Details about where and when people are flying, including connecting flights and layovers.
- Financial Details: Information about how tickets were paid for, including credit card numbers.
- Booking Information: Data about who booked the flight, when, and through which agency or website.
This information covers both past and future travel, giving federal agencies a detailed picture of people’s movements over a period of more than three years.
How Long Has This Been Going On?
While the most recent contract between ICE and ARC was signed in 2023 for one year, federal access to this kind of travel data goes back at least to 2018. This means that for several years, millions of travelers have had their information shared with the government without their direct knowledge or consent.
What Are the Main Concerns?
Privacy and Oversight
One of the biggest worries is about privacy. Many people do not realize that when they book a flight, their personal information could end up in a government database. There are also questions about how much oversight there is over this process. Normally, legal safeguards are supposed to protect people’s private information. For example, law enforcement should only collect data that is directly related to an investigation, and there should be independent checks to make sure the rules are being followed.
Jake Laperruque from the Center for Democracy & Technology has criticized the use of data brokers like ARC, saying it allows the government to get around these important legal protections. According to Laperruque, this practice “undermines legal safeguards meant to protect privacy” and makes it easier for agencies to collect large amounts of data without proper oversight.
Lack of Transparency
Another concern is the lack of transparency. There has been no official announcement or public debate about this data-sharing arrangement. Most travelers are unaware that their information is being sold and used in this way. This lack of openness makes it difficult for people to know what is happening with their data or to challenge the practice if they disagree with it.
Potential for Abuse
With such a large amount of data available, there is always a risk that it could be misused. For example, federal agents could search for information about people who are not under investigation, or the data could be used for purposes other than those originally intended. Without strong oversight, it is hard to ensure that the data is only used in appropriate ways.
How Does This Affect Different Groups?
Travelers
For most travelers, the main impact is a loss of privacy. Every time you book a flight, your personal information may be shared with federal agencies without your knowledge. This can feel invasive, especially for people who value their privacy or who are concerned about government surveillance.
Immigrants
Immigrants may be especially affected by this practice. CBP and ICE use travel data to track the movements of people who may be in the United States 🇺🇸 without proper documentation. This means that immigrants who travel by air could be more easily identified and targeted for investigation or deportation.
Law Enforcement
From the perspective of law enforcement, having access to detailed travel data is a valuable tool. It can help agents identify suspicious patterns, track down people who are trying to avoid detection, and gather evidence for investigations. However, the ease of access also raises questions about whether the data is being used responsibly.
Privacy Advocates
Privacy advocates are deeply concerned about the lack of oversight and the potential for abuse. They argue that the government should not be able to collect and use such large amounts of personal data without clear rules and independent checks.
What Are the Legal and Policy Issues?
The main legal issue is whether the government should be allowed to collect and use this data without a warrant or court order. In many cases, law enforcement agencies are required to show probable cause and get approval from a judge before accessing private information. By using ARC as a data broker, CBP and ICE can bypass these requirements.
There are also questions about whether this practice violates existing privacy laws or the Constitution. Some experts believe that the mass collection of travel data could be challenged in court, especially if it is used to target people who are not under investigation.
What Has Been the Response So Far?
So far, there has been little official response from the government or the airlines involved. The arrangement has not been widely publicized, and most travelers are unaware of it. However, privacy advocates and some members of Congress have started to raise questions about the practice.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the ongoing scrutiny from privacy groups and legal experts may eventually lead to changes in how travel data is collected and used. There is a growing call for more transparency, stronger oversight, and better protection of travelers’ rights.
What Can Travelers Do?
If you are concerned about your privacy, there are a few steps you can take:
- Be Aware: Understand that your travel data may be shared with federal agencies when you book a flight.
- Ask Questions: When booking a ticket, ask the airline or travel agency about their privacy policies and how your data will be used.
- Monitor Your Information: Keep an eye on your credit card statements and personal information for any unusual activity.
- Contact Advocacy Groups: Organizations like the Center for Democracy & Technology can provide information and support if you are worried about how your data is being used.
For more information on how Customs and Border Protection handles traveler data, you can visit the official CBP website.
What Might Happen Next?
At this time, there are no signs that the data-sharing arrangement will change soon. However, as more people learn about the practice, there may be increased pressure on lawmakers and government agencies to review and possibly reform the system. Privacy advocates are likely to continue pushing for more transparency and stronger legal protections.
If you are an immigrant, a frequent traveler, or simply someone who values your privacy, it is important to stay informed about these developments. Changes in policy could affect how your personal information is collected and used in the future.
Background: How Did We Get Here?
The collection and sale of flight data is not new. For years, airlines have gathered information about their passengers for business and security reasons. What is new is the scale of the data being shared and the way it is being used by federal agencies.
The Airlines Reporting Corporation has played a key role in making this possible. By acting as a central hub for travel data, ARC can provide federal agencies with access to a vast database of information. The Travel Intelligence Program, in particular, has made it easier for agents to search for specific details and track people’s movements over time.
The Role of the Airlines Reporting Corporation and the Travel Intelligence Program
The Airlines Reporting Corporation is a private company that handles financial transactions between airlines and travel agencies. In recent years, it has expanded its role to include the collection and sharing of travel data with the government. The Travel Intelligence Program is the system that allows federal agents to search the ARC database by name, credit card number, or airline.
This arrangement has made it possible for CBP and ICE to access a huge amount of information quickly and easily. However, it has also raised questions about whether private companies should be involved in the collection and sharing of sensitive personal data.
Implications for the Future
The ongoing debate over travel data collection is likely to continue. As technology advances and more data becomes available, the government will have even greater ability to track people’s movements. This could have important consequences for privacy, security, and the rights of travelers.
It is possible that new laws or regulations will be introduced to address these concerns. For now, travelers should be aware of how their information is being used and take steps to protect their privacy when possible.
Conclusion: What Should You Remember?
- Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are using travel data collected by the Airlines Reporting Corporation through the Travel Intelligence Program.
- Over a billion records covering 39 months of travel are included in this database.
- The data includes names, flight details, and payment information, and can be searched by federal agents for law enforcement and immigration investigations.
- There are serious concerns about privacy, oversight, and the potential for abuse.
- Travelers, especially immigrants, should be aware that their information may be shared with federal agencies.
- Ongoing scrutiny from privacy advocates may lead to changes in the future, but for now, the practice continues.
For more details on how your travel data may be used by federal agencies, visit the official CBP website. Stay informed, ask questions, and take steps to protect your privacy as the debate over travel data collection continues.
Learn Today
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) → Federal agency securing U.S. borders and managing immigration enforcement and security.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → Agency enforcing immigration laws and investigating immigration-related crimes in the U.S.
Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) → Company handling airline financial transactions and sharing travel data with federal agencies.
Travel Intelligence Program (TIP) → ARC system providing government access to extensive travel data for investigations.
Data Broker → Entity that collects, aggregates, and sells personal information for government or business use.
This Article in a Nutshell
Since 2018, major U.S. airlines share passenger data with DHS through ARC, enabling CBP and ICE broad access. This raises serious privacy concerns as data, including payment details, is used for immigration and law enforcement investigations without travelers’ explicit knowledge or legal oversight.
— By VisaVerge.com
