Culture wars in the United States over the forcible expulsion of migrants have extended into the skies, with the revelation that two unions representing flight attendants have criticised immigration agents and told members they should refuse to assist in deportation arrests.
Advice issued on 7 September 2026 by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, a labour organisation representing over around 55,000 crew across 20 airlines, informs members that, “You cannot be required to assist in an arrest or detainment in any way,” and adds: “If you are asked to assist in physically restraining an individual for the purpose of law enforcement, you should refuse.”
The statement comes amid growing concern over the hostile US approach to immigrants under the Trump administration and the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in US communities, including at airports around the country.
Time has reported testimony from gate agents who have been asked by ICE to assist their operations by identifying or finding passengers, in addition to requests for internal data and access to secure airside areas.
The labour association has urged its members to adhere to airline policy on the need for a warrant before any private data or secure areas can be accessed, explaining: “if a law enforcement agent does not have a judicial warrant, the airline can deny the request to enter.”
As well as protecting their members from being accused of potentially illegal involvement in deportations, labour organisations in the US are seeking to shield their own workers from being expatriated themselves. A July incident reported by ABC News saw a Southwest Airlines steward taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a breach of his visa conditions. His union said at the time they were supporting his family, funding his legal expenses, and had received messages of concern from their membership.
Against that context, the union has confirmed to its members that they are entitled to refuse to answer questions about both passengers and co-workers. “If questioned about passengers or coworkers, you still have the right to remain silent,” the guidance says. It goes on to recommend that workers report such interactions with immigration officials to their union and line managers. To avoid becoming embroiled in clashes, the union told members to “Use your de-escalation training and situational awareness.”
Similarly, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) stated on Monday that it is “deeply alarmed” by ICE targeting of passengers and crew, and denounced the way its 26,000 American Airlines crew members were being placed in “dangerous positions.” The union has opened channels for anonymous whistleblowing from crew who have experienced potentially law-breaking requests from ICE agents.
Borrowing the language of the Trump administration on the “Golden Age of Travel,” APFA said: “The airline industry is meant to reunite family and friends, support business and leisure travel, and make the world a smaller, more welcoming place.” It promised to call out federal activities that “erode our values, threaten constitutional protections, and endanger our livelihoods.”
The union responses are not the first time travel industry stakeholders have spoken out against Trump’s anti-immigration policies. Earlier in 2026, the US Travel Association hit out at the administration’s plans to withdraw customs services from cities where significant numbers of people do not support deportations and recent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have occurred. The association warned such measures could wipe tens of billions of dollars from the US visitor economy.
