This bill, the TRACK ICE Act, changes federal aviation rules and adds new reporting for certain immigration enforcement flights. It amends title 49, U.S. Code, to say that private aircraft owners or operators cannot withhold information under current FAA privacy rules for operations that: (1) are operated by, under contract or subcontract with, or on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP); (2) are used to detain, deport, or transport people in the custody of the Secretary of Homeland Security for immigration law enforcement; and (3) receive Federal funding or other financial help for those operations. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security (including ICE, CBP, and the Coast Guard) to publish flight data within 72 hours after each such aircraft operation. The bill defines "flight data" to include departure and arrival date/time, departure and arrival ICAO airport codes and ICE Air mission designations, the aircraft registration number, the ICAO aircraft identification code, the number of detained individuals who boarded and deplaned at each location, and demographic categories for each detainee (nationality, sex, age groups 0-10, 11-17, 18-50, 51+, family composition such as single adult, unaccompanied child, or family unit), plus the type and quantity of restraints used during the flight (for example handcuffs, arm and leg shackles, or full-body restraints). The bill was introduced on January 21, 2026, and referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation. Sponsors listed include Rep. Jasmine Crockett and others.
If you follow immigration enforcement or aviation transparency, this bill would make information about DHS aircraft operations used to transport people available to the public within 72 hours. Private aircraft contractors that fly detainees for ICE or CBP and that receive federal funding could not use certain FAA privacy protections to hide that information. The published data would include basic flight details, counts of detainees boarding and leaving, some grouped demographic information, and the types of restraints used during flights.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information on supporters' full statements in the bill text or metadata. The bill's short title, "Transparency Requirements for Aircraft Carriers to Know Immigration Conduct and Enforcement Act," indicates the sponsors intend to increase public reporting and transparency for aircraft used in immigration enforcement.
No publicly available information.