U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D–TX) has introduced new legislation aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in U.S. immigration enforcement operations, particularly those involving deportation and detention flights.
In a statement released Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, Crockett announced the introduction of the Transparency Requirements for Aircraft Carriers to Know Immigration Conduct and Enforcement Act, known as the TRACK ICE Act, citing growing concerns that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has used federal aviation privacy programs to conceal flight operations from public oversight.
Addressing “Ghost Flights” and Accountability Gaps
According to the congresswoman, ICE and its contractors have allegedly exploited Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) privacy mechanisms—such as the Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) Program—to obscure the movement of aircraft used in immigration enforcement.
Critics argue that this practice leaves families unable to locate detained relatives and limits scrutiny of deportation procedures.
“For far too long, the federal government has operated immigration flights without full transparency,” Crockett said. “These ghost flights are tearing families apart, leaving loved ones in the dark, and giving immigration agencies free rein to act without oversight, transparency, and justice.”
The proposed legislation would apply to any entity contracted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to transport, detain, or deport individuals.
Key Provisions of the TRACK ICE Act
If enacted, the TRACK ICE Act would:
- Mandate the public release of detailed information within 72 hours of any immigration enforcement flight
- Prohibit aircraft operators from masking flight-tracking data while conducting federal immigration missions
- Require disclosure of detention conditions, including restraints used on individuals during transport
Supporters argue that these measures are necessary to ensure compliance with safety standards, court orders, and basic human rights protections.
Human Rights Groups Back the Measure
The bill has received endorsements from a broad coalition of civil rights and advocacy organizations, including Human Rights First, LULAC, the Vera Institute of Justice, the National Immigration Law Center, and Church World Service, among others.
Robyn Barnard, senior director of refugee and immigrant rights at Human Rights First, said the bill responds to unprecedented levels of detention and deportation activity.
“In this first year of the Trump administration, we have witnessed a detention and deportation machine operating at a scale we have never seen before,” Barnard said, describing ICE’s flight network as “opaque” and increasingly “lawless.”
She added that monitoring efforts have documented flights transferring detainees far from their families and legal counsel, sometimes to countries other than their own and, in some cases, in violation of court orders.
Legislative Outlook
The TRACK ICE Act now heads to committee consideration, where it is expected to face intense debate amid broader national discussions on immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and federal transparency.
While supporters frame the bill as a necessary safeguard for human rights and accountability, opponents are likely to raise concerns about operational security and enforcement efficiency.
As immigration policy remains a central and polarizing issue in U.S. politics, the proposal underscores renewed congressional scrutiny of how enforcement actions are carried out—and how much the public has a right to know.
