A 28-year-old Venezuelan woman, who has lived in Florida for nearly a decade, recounted her unexpected encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at the Fort Lauderdale airport on July 17, just moments before boarding a domestic flight.
Identified as Claudia Carolina Rodríguez Caglianone, she had an asylum application pending since 2017 and had no criminal record. Despite this, her name appeared on ICE's system, leading to her detention for over two weeks. This incident underscores the growing trend of immigration arrests at U.S. airports.
The Unexpected Detention
"I never imagined something like this could happen to me," she shared with BBC Mundo. "I was at the boarding gate when ICE agents approached me, asked for my ID, and without returning it, said they needed to question me about my immigration case."
Rodríguez had entered the United States on a student visa in January 2017, applying for asylum before it expired—a request still under review at the time of her detention. In 2023, she also secured Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a benefit that was rescinded for over a dozen countries, including Venezuela, during the Trump administration.
Life Transformation in the U.S.
Discussing her reasons for emigrating, Rodríguez was forthright: "Everyone knows the regime Venezuela has been under since Hugo Chávez came to power. I grew up in that corruption and never felt safe in my environment."
Settling in Florida, she studied at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, earning a bachelor's and a master's degree in business administration, and even captained the women's soccer team. "I came here for the opportunities this country offers, and for the past 11 years, it has been my home," she emphasized.
The Harsh Reality of Detention
After being stopped at the boarding gate, Rodríguez spent eight days in ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Miramar, describing the conditions as inhumane. She reported being crammed with 47 other women in a single room, with expired moldy food, filthy restrooms, no access to showers or clean clothes, and only sink water available.
She was then transferred to the Broward Transition Center in Pompano Beach, where she remained for an additional nine days. By the end of her two-week detention, she had lost approximately 15 pounds.
On August 3, an immigration judge set her bail at $5,000, leading to her release. She received public support from Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who verified her clean record and conducted an unscheduled inspection of the Pompano Beach facility.
ICE defended the detention, stating, "A work permit or pending application does NOT confer legal status in the U.S." Rodríguez, however, acknowledged her situation wasn't the worst: "I never imagined something like this could happen to me. Unfortunately, many others have been unjustly arrested and are in a much worse situation."
A Broader Pattern of Airport Arrests
Rodríguez's case is far from unique. ICE has ramped up arrests at airports following a May 2025 memorandum with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), allowing both agencies to share passenger information. Recent reports indicate that the TSA shared data on over 31,000 travelers with ICE, resulting in more than 800 arrests at airports.
Abel Núñez, director of CARECEN, warned that these detentions are not random. "Immigration authorities know who is traveling and their immigration status before they even arrive," he explained.
Operations have been reported in at least 15 airports, with detainees from over a dozen nationalities. In June, ICE set a monthly record with 39,563 detentions nationwide. Florida, where all county sheriffs have active agreements with ICE, sees the highest number of immigration arrests.
Experts have extended warnings even to those picking up or dropping off travelers at terminals, as family members have also been detained during these operations. Núñez advised, "If you can avoid traveling through airports, do so and explore other options."
Understanding ICE Arrests at Airports
Why was Claudia Rodríguez detained by ICE at the airport?
Claudia Rodríguez was detained because her name appeared in ICE's system due to her pending asylum application. Despite having no criminal record, she was held for questioning about her immigration status.
What are the conditions like in ICE detention centers?
Rodríguez described inhumane conditions, including overcrowding, expired food, unsanitary facilities, and limited access to clean water in the ICE detention centers where she was held.
How has the partnership between TSA and ICE affected airport arrests?
The partnership allows for the sharing of passenger information, which has led to an increase in airport arrests. TSA has shared data on over 31,000 travelers, resulting in more than 800 arrests.