A major U.S. flight attendant union has issued new guidance to crew members on how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents approach them at airports or on aircraft.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents tens of thousands of flight attendants at airlines including United, Alaska, Hawaiian and Frontier, says crew members generally do not have to answer questions about passengers or fellow employees.
According to the union’s guidance, flight attendants have the right to remain silent if questioned about passengers or coworkers. They also do not have to direct law enforcement toward particular passengers or individuals.
The guidance says that at U.S. domestic airports, federal agents generally need a warrant or consent to enter or search non-public areas such as an aircraft or jetbridge.
Crew members are also told that they cannot be required to assist with an arrest or detention and may have the right to record law enforcement activity in certain areas of an airport.
The union specifically advises flight attendants not to answer questions about the legal status or other information concerning passengers or coworkers.
However, AFA-CWA emphasized that this is a rapidly evolving area of law and that its general guidance could become outdated as legal circumstances change.
The advice comes as concern grows within the airline industry over increased ICE enforcement activity at U.S. airports.
Last month, Southwest flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson was reportedly detained by ICE agents at Nashville International Airport after authorities learned he was returning to his home crew base. Thompson, who was born in Jamaica, remains in ICE custody as federal authorities seek to remove him from the United States over an alleged visa overstay.
Southwest has also faced criticism over an incident involving a passenger who was reportedly detained by ICE while attempting to board a flight at Denver International Airport.
Southwest said it complies with applicable federal and state law when law enforcement requests customers information.
