Key Takeaways
• Avelo Airlines will launch deportation flights for DHS starting May 12, 2025, using three Boeing 737s.
• Community protests and an online boycott challenge Avelo’s contract, citing ethical, safety, and transparency concerns.
• ICE removed 271,484 people in 2024, with Avelo’s participation drawing scrutiny from Oregon and Connecticut officials.
Avelo Airlines’ Role in Deportation Flights Sparks Backlash and Debate
Avelo Airlines, a budget carrier based in Salem, Oregon, has recently signed a contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to carry out deportation flights. This move, set to begin on May 12, 2025, has caused strong reactions in Salem and other communities Avelo serves, especially in Connecticut. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this issue touches on a wide range of topics, from government contracts and immigration enforcement to community concerns and public protests.
Who, What, When, Where, Why
Avelo Airlines, known for offering low-cost flights, has agreed to a contract with the Department of Homeland Security. The contract requires Avelo to use three of its 20 Boeing 737 airplanes for deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These special flights will take off from Mesa Gateway Airport near Phoenix, Arizona, not from Avelo’s main Salem location. Salem residents and officials learned the news soon before the flights were set to begin, sparking immediate protest and debate.
The airline says this contract helps it in three main ways:
– It provides stability as Avelo tries to expand its services.
– It helps the airline keep about 1,100 people employed.
– It makes up for money lost in other parts of its business.
According to Avelo spokeswoman Courtney Goff, there are no plans to run deportation flights from Salem’s airport. CEO Andrew Levy, when asked to share a copy of the contract with Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong, said the information could only be released through a public Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to DHS.
Why Does This Matter?
The contract between Avelo Airlines and DHS is important for a few reasons. It gives insight into how airlines and the federal government handle sensitive immigration topics. When a company many people use for regular travel gets involved in deportation flights, it brings up strong feelings and questions about business practices, transparency, and ethics.
This move comes as ICE continues to use both commercial airlines and private charter planes for deporting people out of the United States 🇺🇸 under its Air Operations program. In fiscal year 2024, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations sent 271,484 people back to over 192 different countries.
Community Backlash and Protests in Salem
News of Avelo Airlines’ new contract quickly caused a public outcry in Salem. On May 5, local residents joined the Salem Democratic Socialists of America at a protest near the airport. Protesters then moved to Salem City Hall, wanting their voices heard by city leaders. By May 6, an online petition to end the contract already had 306 signatures.
Protesters and community groups are working to keep public attention on the issue. They plan to speak at the next Salem City Council meeting on May 12, the same day deportation flights are scheduled to start. These activists hope the city will step in, or at least make a strong public statement against the contract.
The city, however, has said its options are limited. Salem City Manager Krishna Namburi told city councilors that:
– The city does not have any agreement with ICE to operate deportation flights out of Salem’s airport.
– The city cannot stop the federal government from using air carriers for deportation.
– The contract with Avelo can only be ended if the airline does not follow its promises in the deal.
This means, for now, city leaders do not have the legal power to block or change Avelo’s agreement with DHS.
Outrage in Connecticut, Avelo’s Main Hub
The concern has spread beyond Salem. Avelo’s biggest base is at Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut 🇺🇸. There, state officials and many people are demanding answers. Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong has written two strong letters to Avelo Airlines, warning of possible safety questions and concerns about how deportees are treated aboard these special flights.
Tong’s letters ask about several key points:
– Whether shackled passengers pose safety risks in emergencies.
– If flight crews are ready to handle medical or evacuation problems, especially with people who may be restrained.
– The effect on public trust in air travel when regular air carriers are used for deportation missions.
Beyond safety, the involvement of a budget airline in removing immigrants has led to an online boycott effort. A petition now has more than 32,800 signatures from people saying they will stop flying with Avelo until the company stops its role in deportation flights.
Avelo’s CEO, Andrew Levy, has refused to make the DHS contract public. When requested by state officials, he told them to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Department of Homeland Security instead.
Political and Legal Context
This situation raises questions about how much power local or state leaders have over federal immigration policies. While some community leaders want to stop the flights, the law is not on their side. The federal government can run deportation operations wherever needed, making use of any airline willing to enter such contracts.
It also highlights the business aspect of immigration enforcement. As Courtney Goff from Avelo put it, the deportation flights bring in steady income and help keep the company afloat during tough times. For many businesses, these contracts are a reliable source of money, but they can also bring negative attention.
As for the legal side, Attorney General William Tong continues to push for more information about how Avelo will keep all passengers and crew safe, and what procedures are in place to protect everyone involved. His focus is on both safety and public transparency.
ICE Air Operations: Background and Data
Deportation flights are not new. ICE has been using both chartered and commercial planes for years to move people out of the United States 🇺🇸. The agency works with many airlines and sometimes hires private charters for special missions.
According to ICE’s own numbers, in the 2024 fiscal year, the Enforcement and Removal Operations branch deported 271,484 people to more than 192 countries. That’s a huge figure, showing that deportation flights are a regular part of the immigration enforcement process.
ICE flights can include people with criminal records, those who have lost their asylum cases, and others with final deportation orders. These operations need to be well-organized and safe for both passengers and crew.
To read more about ICE Air Operations and its role in deportation flights, you can visit the official ICE Air Operations page.
Changes in DHS Deportation Policy
Around the same time as Avelo’s contract, the Department of Homeland Security rolled out a new program called the “CBP Home App”. This smartphone app offers financial and travel help for people who decide to leave the United States 🇺🇸 on their own. DHS says any illegal immigrant who uses the app to self-deport will get a $1,000 stipend. According to DHS, this lowers the cost of deportation by roughly 70%.
The goal of the CBP Home App program is to encourage voluntary departure, saving money for the government and possibly making the process safer and less stressful for the people involved. Yet critics say offering money for self-deportation may not address the root causes that lead people to migrate.
Ongoing Debate Over Deportation Flights
The debate over Avelo Airlines’ role in deportation flights is part of a bigger argument about how the United States 🇺🇸 handles immigration.
For some, the priority is upholding the law and removing people who do not have the right to remain. They argue that contracts with airlines are a practical and necessary part of this task.
For others, there is concern about the safety and dignity of those being deported. They worry about shackling passengers, the emotional impact on families, and the role of private companies in enforcing immigration laws.
Community Impact
For many Salem residents, it is not just a business deal or a political issue—it is a matter of values. Protests and petitions show that many people do not want companies based in their town to help with deportations.
Some say that even though the flights will not start from Salem’s airport, the contract still affects the city’s image. Others feel powerless since the city cannot break the contract unless there is a reason such as a major rule violation.
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, the story is similar. As Avelo’s biggest base, Tweed New Haven Airport feels the tension. Officials, passengers, and workers are all invested in what comes next.
What Might Happen Next?
Looking forward, a few things could shape the next chapter of this issue:
– The Salem City Council might take up the community’s concerns at its next meeting, even if its legal power is limited.
– Avelo may face growing pressure from both local officials and passengers to consider dropping the deportation flights contract.
– Federal agencies, like DHS and ICE, may have to answer more questions about safety, transparency, and who they work with in the future.
– The grassroots boycott may grow, influencing Avelo’s decisions and the business choices of other airlines.
For the families affected by deportation, these policy and business shifts have real-life consequences. The people on these flights may be returning to dangerous situations, leaving children behind, or facing uncertain futures.
Conclusion: A Complex Picture
The story of Avelo Airlines, the Department of Homeland Security, and deportation flights is complicated. It involves federal law, local communities, business interests, and personal stories. As the first flights are about to take off from Mesa Gateway Airport, the entire debate shows no sign of ending soon.
Key Takeaways:
– Avelo Airlines has agreed to operate deportation flights for DHS, launching May 12, 2025.
– Community groups and state officials in Oregon and Connecticut have launched protests, petitions, and official challenges.
– The deportation flights are part of a wider DHS and ICE operation, which removed over 271,000 people in fiscal year 2024 alone.
– New DHS programs, like the CBP Home App, aim to reduce costs by offering money for voluntary departures.
– The debate involves questions about business responsibility, government authority, human rights, and community values.
As all sides wait to see what happens next, you can follow ongoing information about Immigration and Customs Enforcement programs and policies by visiting the official DHS website.
VisaVerge.com will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more details come to light, helping you stay informed about how immigration policies and business decisions shape our communities.
Learn Today
Deportation Flights → Flights operated specifically to remove individuals ordered to leave the United States, often under federal government contracts.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) → The U.S. federal agency responsible for public security, including immigration enforcement and border protection.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) → A U.S. law letting the public request access to federal government records and information.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → A federal agency under DHS managing immigration enforcement, including detention and deportation operations.
CBP Home App → A mobile app by DHS offering money and coordination for immigrants who choose to self-deport voluntarily from the U.S.
This Article in a Nutshell
Avelo Airlines’ new contract with DHS for deportation flights has sparked outcry and protests in Salem and Connecticut. Starting May 12, 2025, the airline will use three planes for ICE removals, raising questions about business ethics, local government authority, and immigrant rights as community members weigh in on the unfolding controversy.
— By VisaVerge.com
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• Trump Unveils Self-Deportation Program With Free Flights
• Home Support worker scheme under scrutiny as deportation fears grow
• Trump Unveils Executive Order for Self-Deportation Flights
• Judges Warn Trump’s Mass Deportation Endangers U.S. Citizens
• Trump Administration Targets Students With Deportation Database
