Our KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants shows that many immigrants are already avoiding travel and other activities due to immigration-related fears, which may increase following news that TSA is sharing information with ICE. On Friday, The New York Times reported that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is sharing the names of passengers with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to seek out and expel people under deportation orders. Previously, ICE had avoided interfering with domestic travel. This is the latest step the Trump administration has taken as part of its effort to have federal agencies share data to aid in the arrest, detention, and deportation of immigrants who may be in the U.S. unlawfully. While data sharing practices are being challenged in courts, the Trump administration has directed the Internal Revenue Service and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share personal information of individuals for immigration enforcement purposes.
Prior to this news, our recent KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants found that 27% of immigrants said they or a family member have avoided traveling this year due to concerns about drawing attention to someone’s immigration status. The share of likely undocumented immigrants who say this is even higher, with 63% saying they have done this. Avoiding travel is something even a third (32%) of immigrants who are lawfully present and a fifth (18%) of naturalized citizens say they are doing.
Traveling is just one of the many aspects of life that immigrants say they have avoided since President Trump came into office. About one in ten immigrants also say they or a family member have avoided seeking medical care (14%), going to church or other community activities (14%), going to work (13%), or taking a child to school or attending school events (10%) due to immigration-related concerns this year. Collectively, three in ten (30%) immigrants overall say they have avoided at least one of these activities since January, rising to three-fourths (74%) of immigrants who are likely undocumented.
Immigrants’ avoidance of activities outside of the home have roughly doubled since we last surveyed immigrants in April 2025 (30% vs. 13%). In April, just 10% of immigrants say they or a family member had avoided traveling since January, while 27% say that now.
TSA data sharing may also further compound immigrants’ concerns about the privacy and safety of their data in a variety of settings. Even prior to these latest actions, about half of immigrants said they are concerned about health officials or providers sharing patient information with ICE or Customs and Border Patrol.
As the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration continues, about four in ten immigrants say they have experienced increased stress, anxiety, or sadness due to immigration-related fears this year. Amid this news about TSA, immigrants’ avoidance of travel will likely continue, as will their avoidance of other activities the home, which may have further negative repercussions for their health and well-being.