Given the recent significant presence of ICE officers at dozens of US airports across the United States, I am currently advising intercountry adoptees NOT to fly domestically unless 1) it is necessary and 2) you travel with either a US passport book or a U.S. passport card.
Current status: Active as of July 29, 2026
What to Know: According to the New York Times the Trump administration is significantly ramping up immigration enforcement at U.S. airports, specifically focusing on domestic travel within the United States. The reports indicate that immigration officials are targeting people who are “visa overstays,” and are also arresting people for immigration issues, including those who have pending immigration cases and are authorized to work in the United States.
Why Should I Avoid Flying? Immigration enforcement at U.S. airports threatens anyone who may not have available proof of U.S. citizenship, even if they are U.S. citizens—and even if they are in the process of securing citizenship or legal status. Intercountry adoptees, particularly those who by law are U.S. citizens but do not have available proof of citizenship (e.g. do not have a US passport or a Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship), are vulnerable to immigration questioning and possible enforcement. Unless you have a US passport book or U.S. passport card and carry it with you on domestic flights, I do not recommend flying domestically within the United States at this time.
Why are You Making this Advisory? Because I am cautious, and because my job is to protect my clients and intercountry adopted people in the U.S. from an overreaching, unpredictable, and punitive administration, specifically its immigration enforcement. This is not a time to “brush off” concerns or to say “what’s the big deal.” It’s a time of being alert, cautious, and prepared.
I’m an Intercountry Adoptee with a U.S. Passport and Have a Pending Flight in the U.S. What Should I Do? If you are scheduled to fly in the U.S., I recommend carrying your U.S. passport book or a U.S. passport book (only one is necessary). You can still use REAL ID for identification at the airport, but having a U.S. passport book or card available can provide additional proof of U.S. citizenship if it becomes necessary. If you have a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship, do not carry the original with you—leave it at home in a safe and accessible place where a loved one or trusted friend could retrieve it if necessary.
I am an intercountry adoptee and do not have a U.S. passport or a Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization. Should I be concerned about flying in the U.S.? Yes, I believe you should be concerned. Here are a the scenarios that concern me:
- You are a U.S. citizen under current law (the Child Citizenship Act of 2000), but immigration agencies may not have you classified as one, even though you received citizenship through your adoptive parents. This is in part an issue with the U.S. government not issuing citizenship documentation automatically to adoptive parents until after 2003. Even though you are a U.S. citizen by law, you may still be classified as a legal permanent resident (“green card” holder) within the current immigration system, as no one took care to secure proof of citizenship when you were a child. Lacking documented proof of U.S. citizenship could lead to questions from immigration officials.
- You may not be a U.S. citizen. This largely applies to older intercountry adoptees (those born prior to February 28, 1983) whose parents did not naturalize them when they were children. I have written extensively about this, and this FAQ can answer additional questions about such a status. More general information about citizenship documentation is also here.
- You may not be lawfully present in the United States. While not common, adoptive parents may have used shortcuts years ago to bring their adoptive children to the U.S., most notably using temporary visas that have now long expired. USCIS and ICE are currently and specifically targeting immigrants whose temporary visas have expired, or what are known as “visa overstays.”
What I Should Do If I Have More Questions?
If you are an intercountry adoptee in the United States and have additional questions about U.S.-based airline travel, you may request a free consultation to discuss your travel plans and how best to prepare for them. This applies ONLY to intercountry adopted people in the United States who have upcoming domestic travel. Use this form to make the request for guidance.
