PHOENIX, AZ — Avelo Airlines has come under fire following the departure of its first deportation flight in partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from Mesa Gateway Airport on Monday. The move has sparked protests, community outrage, and a growing petition demanding the airline sever its contract with federal immigration authorities.
The charter flight, coordinated with ICE, is part of ongoing deportation operations linked to immigration enforcement priorities established during the Trump administration. While the Biden administration has adjusted aspects of immigration policy, deportation flights continue to be conducted under longstanding legal frameworks.
Avelo Airlines, a low-cost carrier known for its domestic routes, recently entered into a charter agreement with ICE to transport individuals facing removal from the United States. Monday’s flight marked the beginning of that contract being fulfilled from the Phoenix-area airport, a decision that quickly drew attention from immigrant rights advocates and local residents…