(UNITED STATES) A new analysis shows U.S. immigration enforcement flights hit a new high in August 2025 under President Trump, marking the largest monthly total since systematic tracking began in 2020. The spike—driven by more removal flights to Mexico and a broader push to expand deportations—stands out as record monthly flights and underscores a tougher enforcement stance across the United States 🇺🇸.
According to the report, there were 1,393 enforcement flights in August 2025, averaging about 45 per day, as well as the highest monthly count of removal flights recorded to date.
Overall 2025 Trend and Key Numbers
From January 20 through August 31, officials conducted at least 7,454 U.S. immigration enforcement flights, which include removals, removal-related operations, and domestic transfer or “shuffle” flights. That represents a 34% increase over the same period in 2024.
- In August alone: at least 240 removal flights, up 20% year over year.
- In 2025: at least 85 removal flights used military cargo planes, supplementing ICE Air charters.
Human Rights First, which now houses the ICE Flight Monitor, says the numbers reflect both intensity and reach, with flights touching more countries than in past years.
ICE provides dashboard data on arrests, detention, and removals but does not share real-time flight-level data or publish detailed manifests. Researchers and watchdogs therefore rely on open-source flight tracking and independent logging. Human Rights First continues the work of Tom Cartwright, who has tracked more than 40,000 ICE flights since 2020.
- The ICE statistics page (broader enforcement figures): ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
Surge Detailed: Routes, Carriers, and Military Role
The August surge stretched across the region. Primary removal destinations remained Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and El Salvador. Analysts also documented first-time flights, since tracking began, to:
- Greece
- Pakistan
- Argentina
- Azerbaijan
- Chile
- Kazakhstan
The system has seen more multi-country removal flights, where one aircraft makes several drop-offs. These complex routes often mean long days in restraints for those aboard—advocates describe cases where people remain shackled for 30 hours or more.
Charter providers remain central to operations. In July 2025:
- GlobalX Air operated 50% of all ICE flights
- Eastern Air Express: 24%
- Avelo: 20%
- Military and other carriers: 6%
Although government-operated flights are a minority, the 85 military cargo flights this year show a growing partnership. Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the carrier mix indicates ICE is locking in capacity to support high-volume removals as routes and destinations shift.
Operational considerations:
- Removal flights require diplomatic clearances and destination country acceptance.
- Domestic “shuffle” flights move people between U.S. detention centers, often due to bed space and court scheduling.
- Multi-stop flights can increase government efficiency but raise access-to-counsel and custody-chain concerns.
Transparency Gaps and Rights Concerns
Human Rights First warns the scale and conditions of current deportation flights raise serious concerns, especially for people who fear harm in the countries to which they are returned.
- People are commonly secured with handcuffs, waist chains, and leg irons for the duration of a flight, including refueling stops and layovers.
- The rise in multi-country flights increases time in restraints and complicates legal claims for protection.
Because ICE does not publish flight-level information, independent researchers use tools such as FlightAware, FlightRadar24, AirNav, and ADS-B data to track departures and landings. The new report cites the Human Rights First ICE Flight Monitor and open-source methods, echoing years of work to piece together a full picture.
- The Deportation Data Project also compiles removal figures from FOIA releases, but those datasets often arrive months late and may not fully capture evolving 2025 practices.
Important: The lack of flight-level transparency can lead to rapid transfers with little notice, making it difficult for detained people to access legal help, collect evidence, or complete credible fear screenings.
Impact on Detainees, Attorneys, and Communities
For communities along the border and across the interior, the record monthly flights in August 2025 translate into tighter timelines and faster removals.
- People arrested far from the border can be transferred quickly on domestic flights and placed on removal flights with little warning.
- Attorneys report clients sometimes move through multiple facilities in a week, making it hard to:
- share documents
- gather evidence
- schedule credible fear interviews
These rapid movements can strain legal aid and affect case outcomes as much as laws do.
Supporters of the ramp-up argue:
- It reduces backlogs
- It deters unlawful entry
- It enforces final court orders
Critics counter that speed without transparency puts vulnerable people at risk, including asylum seekers and those with pending relief claims.
Operational, Financial, and Human Costs
- The numbers in August exceed earlier peaks since 2020, highlighting a new phase of enforcement under President Trump.
- Official ICE data runs through late July 2025, but independent tracking points to the August climb; some official removal data may lag by months.
For airlines, ICE contracts are now a major business line. Industry reporting shows GlobalX Air derived more than 50% of its Q2 2025 revenue from ICE operations. Carriers able to rapidly adjust to country clearances and security needs tend to win more trips.
Conditions aboard flights are described as punishing:
- Cramped seating and limited movement
- Prolonged time in restraints
- Uncertainty about schedules and final destinations, especially on multi-stop trips
- Families and attorneys face the same uncertainty; overnight transfers between states can sever contact with legal teams
Calls for Reform and What to Expect
Advocacy groups urge Congress to demand more detailed disclosures, including:
- routes
- partner airlines
- use of restraints
- clearer rules on access to counsel before removal and during domestic transfers
Officials cite court backlogs, limited detention space, and the need to carry out final orders as reasons to maintain current flight levels. Litigation and oversight, however, may press ICE to release more information or change procedures around multi-country routes.
For now, the August record sets a new baseline—reflecting both policy choices and a growing flight network built to carry them out. Observers expect continued high counts for U.S. immigration enforcement flights as the year progresses.
This Article in a Nutshell
Independent monitoring indicates U.S. immigration enforcement flights hit a record monthly total in August 2025, with 1,393 flights—about 45 per day—and at least 240 removal flights that month. From January 20 to August 31, trackers logged at least 7,454 enforcement flights, a 34% increase from 2024. Charter carriers (notably GlobalX Air, Eastern Air Express, and Avelo) handled most flights; 85 removals used military cargo planes in 2025. The surge expanded destinations, including first-time routings to several countries, and increased multi-stop flights that extend time in restraints. ICE publishes aggregate stats but not flight-level data, so researchers rely on FlightAware, FlightRadar24, ADS-B and Human Rights First’s ICE Flight Monitor. The rapid transfers strain legal access and raise human-rights concerns, prompting calls for greater transparency and oversight even as officials cite backlog reduction and enforcement needs.
