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HR 7172

TRACK ICE Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jasmine Crockett and 4 co-sponsors

The TRACK ICE Act would restrict private aircraft privacy exemptions for ICE/CBP operations and require public, 72-hour disclosure of detailed flight and detainee data.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 7172

Overview

  • Bill: H.R. 7172 (TRACK ICE Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Sponsor(s): Rep. Jasmine Crockett (primary); cosponsors include Dan Goldman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rob Menendez, Rashida Tlaib, and others
  • Introduction date: January 21, 2026
  • Purpose: To restrict certain aviation privacy program eligibility for immigration aircraft operations and to mandate transparency of flight data related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Coast Guard when transporting individuals in the custody of the Secretary of Homeland Security under immigration enforcement.

What the bill intends to do

  • Tighten privacy program eligibility: Amend the FAA privacy-related provisions to exclude private aircraft owners/operators from the ability to withhold certain information for operations conducted by or on behalf of DHS immigration agencies.
  • Mandate public flight data: Require DHS to publish detailed flight data within 72 hours of each immigration-related aircraft operation, making information publicly accessible.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Privacy program limitation (Section 2)

    • Amends 49 U.S.C. § 44114 (privacy program provisions) by:
      • Redesignating subsection (d) as (e), and adding new subsection (d).
      • New subsection (d) states that a private aircraft owner or operator is ineligible to withhold information under privacy provisions for aircraft operations that are:
      • Operated by, under contract or subcontract with, or on behalf of ICE or CBP;
      • Used for detention, deportation, or transport of individuals in DHS custody in connection with immigration enforcement (as defined by INA §101);
      • Receiving federal funding or any financial assistance for those operations.
    • Effect: Increases transparency and restricts privacy exemptions for private aircraft involved in immigration enforcement.

  2. Transparency of flight data (Section 3)

    • Establishes a requirement to publish flight data for immigration-related operations.
    • Timing: Data must be published not later than 72 hours after each operation.
    • Scope and data elements (defined as "flight data"):
      • Dates/times of departure and arrival; origin and destination airports (ICAO codes) and ICE mission designations; aircraft registration number; ICAO aircraft identification code.
      • Number of detainees boarded/deplaned at each departure/arrival.
      • Detainee demographic data per flight leg, including:
      • Nationality, sex, and age category (0–10; 11–17; 18–50; 51+)
      • Family composition category (e.g., single adult, unaccompanied child, family unit)
      • Type and quantity of restraints used (e.g., handcuffs, shackles, full-body restraint)
    • Purpose: Create public visibility into immigration-related aircraft movements and detainee handling.

Who/what would be affected

  • Private aircraft owners and operators who currently qualify for privacy exemptions under FAA privacy programs.
  • U.S. DHS components involved in immigration enforcement (ICE, CBP) and related Coast Guard operations, when transporting individuals in DHS custody.
  • The public and researchers who would gain public access to detailed flight and detainee-related data for these operations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative process (as of bill’s introduction):
    • Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Judiciary Committee for jurisdictional review.
    • Subsequent referral to a Subcommittee on Aviation (as of Jan 22, 2026).
  • Data publication timeline: 72 hours after each relevant operation.
  • Data scope is broad, covering operational details and demographic attributes of detainees, plus restraint details, raising possible privacy and security considerations that may be discussed in future amendments or hearings.

Potential implications

  • Increased transparency around DHS immigration operations conducted by air, potentially informing oversight, media reporting, and public accountability.
  • Reduced ability for private operators to shield information about such operations through FAA privacy programs.
  • Possible concerns about detainee privacy and safety due to dissemination of demographic and restraint details; might prompt debates on data minimization and safeguards.
  • Could influence private operators’ willingness to contract with immigration agencies if privacy protections are perceived to be limited.

Summary

The TRACK ICE Act aims to curb privacy protections for private aircraft involved in immigration enforcement and to require timely, public disclosure of comprehensive flight and detainee data for such operations. It would affect private aircraft operators engaged with ICE, CBP, and related DHS activities, and it introduces a new 72-hour transparency requirement for publicly accessible flight information and detainee characteristics.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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