Published reporting indicates ICE detained Chantal Alejandra Morales Rojas at Denver International Airport on July 20, 2026, as she attempted to board a Southwest flight to Oakland. Video of the arrest prompted social-media criticism and boycott or cancellation calls directed at Southwest.
Southwest reportedly denied alerting DHS about Morales Rojas. The airline said passenger information reaches TSA and DHS through the federal screening process.
What Southwest provides to TSA
Southwest’s guidance says airlines must collect a passenger’s full name, date of birth and gender, then provide that information to TSA before issuing a boarding pass.
Southwest reportedly described the federal screening process and separately denied that it alerted DHS about Morales Rojas.
What remains disputed or undocumented
DHS alleged that Morales Rojas had overstayed a visa. Her attorney disputed that account, saying a timely application allowed her to remain while her case was pending. The competing reported accounts do not resolve that dispute.
Southwest reportedly said it instructs employees to ensure law-enforcement agencies present appropriate legal documentation before gate-area interactions. The published accounts do not provide a warrant or other legal documentation shown at the gate, so they do not establish what paperwork employees saw. They also do not include Southwest’s underlying employee policy beyond the airline’s description of its instructions.
