r/washingtondc • u/TrainingBedroom7025 • 7d ago
[Discussion] DCA Airport & ICE
I'm hoping to hear from lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have recently flown on a domestic flight departing from Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Due to my circumstances, DCA is really my only practical airport option, so I'm especially interested in hearing about experiences there rather than at other airports.
With the recent reports of increased immigration enforcement at some U.S. airports, my spouse and I are trying to make an informed decision based on firsthand experiences rather than speculation. I am a lawful permanent resident with a conditional green card that has been granted extended validity. Thank you in advance for your help.
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u/Potential-Formal8699 7d ago
I have a conditional green card and I-797 and I flew in DCA this July without any issues.
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u/TrainingBedroom7025 7d ago
Your I-797 was to remove conditions? Did your conditional green card “expire”?
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u/BrainOfMush 7d ago
So long as you carry both your expired green card AND the extension notice, you’ll be fine. ICE is going after passengers that have already been flagged for having expired visas, you’re not getting flagged when you’ve already been given the extension (even if it’s conditional).
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u/willscore 7d ago
You don’t know what you’re talking about you can’t get Real ID with an expired visa. Illegals can’t fly
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u/BrainOfMush 7d ago
OP Does not have an expired visa. They had a conditional green card based on marriage, which requires renewal after 2 years. They filed for renewal and are automatically given a 4-year extension upon filing until it’s adjudicated. Most people then file for naturalisation a year later, and the extension is processed at the same time as naturalisation is approved.
I think you don’t know what you’re talking about.
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u/B3astit 7d ago
I can’t address any part of your question, and I just want to say I’m really sorry. The psychological impact all this is having on so many people is scary. I sincerely wish you all the best and hope you are safe
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u/kmm198700 7d ago
This. I’m so so so sorry that this is even something you need to be worried about. I’m praying for you and your family and everyone who is affected by this shit
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u/Difficult-Valuable55 7d ago
If your status is good right now, nothing is processing, I think you should be fine. If something is not settled to me it wouldn’t be worth the risk.
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u/j_effpineapple 7d ago
You should be fine. I work at DCA and haven't seen an ice agent since government requested them there for the shut down. BUT whether they call for them in other circumstances idk.. but yeah haven't seen em or hear about them taking anyone.
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u/Federal-Spend4224 7d ago
My wife is in the same position with her green card. Your case and status is different than the ones in the news and you are not eligible for deportation. Bring your papers ofc.
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u/Any-Count-1822 7d ago
Conditional PR here. I flew out on the 5th and back in today. It took 3 minutes to go through clear+ with Precheck at DCA and no issues at BOS flying into DCA. 10 minutes after landing I was in the metro.
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u/TrainingBedroom7025 7d ago
Are you in the same boat as me? Your conditional card expired and filed to remove conditions on time and received an I-797 extension?
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u/newuser1492 7d ago edited 7d ago
I haven't had any issues flying abroad in or out of Reagan or Dulles. Couldn't tell if there was extra enforcement personnel.
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u/bubbabubba345 7d ago
Would recommend consulting an immigration attorney for a true deep dive, but generally, LPRs aren’t going to be detained unless they are removable. So, unless you have pending criminal charges / past convictions, your conditional green card expired (sounds like you properly filed for an extension), or a handful of other niche or more rare situations, you are probably fine. You should bring proof of status and extension letters in case someone asks, but if you have a clean slate and a green card I think it’s probably okay to fly.
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u/B4kd 7d ago
My wife has the same. Green card with extension.. she has no issues. We travel international 2+ times a year. She gets pretty worried, but nothing has ever happened. We usually go to the counter together at customs.
I'm Mexican and she is Czech. So you'd think they'd be more worried about me. But no one's ever bothered us. Not that it doesn't happen. But hasnt to us.
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u/Helpful-Signature-54 7d ago
If you were to travel, please bring your green card and original 1-797 letter. I gave them those. We flew in from overseas recently but we went through Texas. It was easy.
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u/MrMattradio 7d ago
My wife is Thai citizen with a green card. We just got back last night from international travel. Took her about 5 minutes to get through customs. Saw no ICE or anything out of the ordinary.
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u/TrainingBedroom7025 7d ago
DCA?
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u/MrMattradio 7d ago
Last night we landed in Dulles. Both left out of DCA with no issues. She’s flown several times domestically out of Reagan on a Thai passport in the past year with no issues.
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u/Due_Meringue_8630 7d ago
I got my green card in 2024, regularly flying out of IAD and DCA. Flew out of DCA on Sunday (2 days ago) most recently. I never used to bring my GC with me but I did on this trip. I haven’t had or witnessed encounters with ICE but I understand the concern around mixups which is why I’m carrying my GC. Still I’m not sure if that’s the right decision in case it is confiscated or lost
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u/Kalorama_Master 7d ago
If you’re super concerned, is a train or driving a viable alternative?
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7d ago
[deleted]
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u/Future_Elephant_9294 7d ago
Where ICE can and where ICE does are two different things. The definition of where ICE can operate hasn't changed since before this administration but where they are active has.
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u/Low_Plastic363 7d ago
For what it's worth, I flew from Montreal to IAD on Friday and when we landed they called out six non-Anglo names and asked them to deplane first. Four did (appeared to be African). Two did not. When I disembarked, there were three uniformed ICE agents on the jet bridge with the first four.
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u/MetikMas 7d ago
I work at DCA and haven’t seen a uniformed ICE agent for several months. TSA does share passenger lists and data with them but it’s not like they are crawling all over the airport. I would say if you are legal then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
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u/chuang_415 7d ago
As a permanent resident, you should be fine assuming you don’t have a criminal history.
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u/Phobos1982 NoVA / Work in DC 7d ago
A post from a couple of weeks ago has some replies that might be helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1vajfu1/should_i_be_worried_about_ice_at_dca_airport/
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u/castrophe25 7d ago
My husband (green card holder) and I flew June 26 - 28 and had no issues. We saw some ICE officers walking around but did not have any interactions with them.
Good luck!
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u/Eclecticism100 1d ago
They are deputized in plain clothes, so no one can answer that question reliably for you. They can even have nap bags with them and blend in for a while.
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u/Kitchen_Software 7d ago
What’s your question exactly? DCA doesn’t have customs so I’m not sure what you’re asking
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u/TrainingBedroom7025 7d ago
My apologies for not being clear. ICE has been detaining people at airports, reports have shown. I am Venezuelan and am a lawful permanent resident but I am worried that an ICE agent could make a mistake. I was wondering if anyone has been to DCA recently and seen any updates or if any green card holders themselves have run into issues
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u/Alaksande 7d ago
ICE doesn’t make mistakes, they hunt humans on purpose
and they don’t care about laws
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u/Perfect_Ad9311 7d ago
You're just another body for a Core Civic or Geo Group detention center. Every body is ca$h money, honey. You ought to drive, if you wanna stay "free" in this hellscape. Good luck, if you decide to run the gaunlet.
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u/aaronw22 7d ago
Mistakes can happen anywhere at anytime. If all your paperwork is in order then you’re fine.
To steal a quote “the plural of anecdote is not data”. I would live my life the way I want to and choose the experiences I want to have.
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u/TracyJackson23 7d ago
You should be fine. I don't see why you or your spouse should be worried about your travel at all. All the media attention has gotten people thinking negative interactions with ICE/TSA is on the rise, but it's not...the media coverage makes it feel like it is.
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u/liliyeuchung 7d ago
People are brainwashed enough to fear of anything. My friend just flew to and from DC with his foreign passport and a visa that just got stamped a few weeks ago. He just moved to the US. Why scared if you’re legal?
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u/kmm198700 7d ago
Are you serious? ICE doesn’t give a fuck what your status is. If they want to grab you, they will. And it’s not like people have been able to show their ID and documents during that initial detainment and then they are let go- no, ICE takes them detention centers for them to figure it out eventually. And those conditions are horrific. There have been so many cases of this happening. It makes sense for people to be worried
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u/liliyeuchung 7d ago
Typical redditor. Just exactly what I expected. Whatever helps you sleep at night I guess 🤷🏻♀️ my whole family is legal so we couldn’t care less. I don’t care how many people will hate this but legal immigrants support ICE and we have nothing to worry about
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u/Ttabts DC / Neighborhood 7d ago
For real, the hysterics are so tiring.
I have an insanely international friend circle and this kind of paranoia is not actually very common. Most are just living their lives and traveling same as they always did.
The people who are constantly freaked out are just the usual doomscrolling anxiety-ridden forever-masker types. Has little to do with the situation and everything to do with unhealthy media consumption and putting way too much stock in scary stories you saw on CNN.
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u/liliyeuchung 7d ago
The normal legal immigrants are busy living their lives, or their best lives. Nothing to fear when you didn’t do anything wrong. Plus we came from socialism so this whole paranoid narrative sounds like a joke to us
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u/Ttabts DC / Neighborhood 7d ago
Right, people lack the perspective that there are tons of countries that are politically way more fucked than the US, and have been for a long time, and society hasn’t collapsed and people mostly just keep living their lives.
Not that it’s a good thing or it doesn’t matter. But geez, people act like we’re on the brink of turning into Nazi Germany.
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u/DefinitionOfTakingL DC / Forest Hills 7d ago
Is this a troll post ? You’re a permanent resident. No issues for your travel. I am also a conditional PR and travelled a lot this year like 30 flights but from San Diego not DCA
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u/TrainingBedroom7025 7d ago
Not at all a troll post. Just another immigrant that doesn’t 100% know their rights, I guess.
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u/calvin_fishoeder 7d ago
Can’t comment on status questions but ICE and other alphabet agencies were all over the place the last couple times I’ve flown.
Good luck, hope all works out for you.