https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/faa-drone-no-fly-zone-ice-dhs AeroTime - Aviation NewsAeroTime - Aviation News * Categories + Civil Aviation o Airlines o Aircraft o Airport o Cargo o MRO + Defense + Aviation Safety + Business Aviation + Sustainability + Technology + Space + Aviation economics + Aviation History + Aviation Top 10s + Executive Spotlight + Sponsored * Newsletter signup + Daily newsletter + AeroTime Insights * Video * Aviation Events * About us * Careers * Products * Why choose us? * Profile * AviationCV Jobs AeroTime - Aviation NewsAeroTime - Aviation News * Categories + Airlines + Aircraft + Defense + MRO + Business Aviation + Aviation Safety * Executive Spotlight * Newsletter + Daily newsletter + AeroTime Insights * Events * Why choose us? * About AeroTime + About us + Careers + Products AeroTime - Aviation NewsAeroTime - Aviation News [ ] FAA institutes nationwide drone no-fly zones around ICE operations ByStephen Pope January 22, 2026, 22:41 (UTC +3) 1 comment Drones content_170201_DJI_0247 DJI The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a nationwide security notice, effectively creating a moving drone no-fly zone around operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other components of the Department of Homeland Security. The notice, NOTAM FDC 6/4375, prohibits unmanned aircraft systems from operating within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet vertically of DHS facilities and mobile assets, including ground vehicle convoys and their escorts. The restriction applies nationwide and continuously, rather than at fixed locations or during defined time windows. Because ICE operates under DHS and routinely conducts enforcement actions using mobile vehicle convoys in public spaces, the restriction functions as a drone no-fly zone around ICE operations, including arrests, transport activities and other field actions. The FAA classifies the restricted airspace as "national defense airspace," and cites its authority under federal security statutes. Drone operators who violate the restriction may face criminal prosecution, civil penalties, administrative enforcement actions, or revocation of FAA operating privileges. The notice also states that drones deemed a credible security threat may be intercepted, seized, damaged, or destroyed. Unlike traditional Temporary Flight Restrictions, the NOTAM does not provide geographic coordinates, activation times, or public notification when the restriction is in effect near a specific location. Instead, the restricted airspace moves with DHS assets, meaning the no-fly zone can appear wherever ICE or other DHS units operate. The new NOTAM replaces an earlier security notice, FDC 5/6378, which covered similar federal agencies but was less explicit about mobile operations. The updated version removes ambiguity by clearly stating that the restriction applies to moving DHS assets, including vehicles and convoys, and not just fixed facilities such as offices or bases. That clarification has drawn attention from drone operators and civil liberties groups because it creates dynamic, invisible exclusion zones that may be impossible to identify in real time. The FAA does not publish public tracking of DHS or ICE movements, and the NOTAM does not include a mechanism for drone pilots to determine when covered assets are nearby. In practical terms, a drone operator flying legally in a public area could unknowingly enter restricted airspace if an ICE convoy passes within the protected radius. The FAA instructs operators to "exercise caution" when flying near DHS facilities and mobile assets, but offers no specific guidance on how to do so in environments where enforcement activity is not publicly disclosed. The notice mentions limited exceptions. Drone operations conducted in direct support of national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, or disaster response missions may be authorized with advance coordination. Operators seeking approval are instructed to coordinate with DHS or other covered agencies, or contact the FAA's System Operations Support Center. The FAA cites multiple federal statutes as the legal basis for the restriction, including laws governing national defense airspace and counter-UAS mitigation. * DHS * ICE * TFR * United States Share Tweet Share 1 comment 1. S Fly says: January 23, 2026 at 4:00 AM Will DHS publish the locations of all its facilities including the detention centers it is trying to hide? Will it provide realtime updates of its roving kidnap vans? Reply Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Comment * [ ] Name * [ ] Email [ ] Website [ ] [ ] Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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