Key Takeaways
• Avelo Airlines began deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport on May 12, 2025, using three Boeing 737-800s.
• Over 35,000 people signed a boycott petition, protesting due process violations and human rights concerns.
• Avelo defends its contract, stating it preserves jobs and affordable fares amid economic challenges.
Deportation flights began today, May 12, 2025, at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. These flights are run by Avelo Airlines in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. As soon as the first flights started, protesters gathered outside the airport, saying the operation is unfair and violates human rights.
Let’s take a closer look at what these flights involve, why people are protesting, what Avelo Airlines says about it, and the bigger picture around immigration policy in the United States 🇺🇸. This story has many sides, and it affects many people—from those being sent back to their home countries, to airport workers, and even regular travelers.
What Are the Deportation Flights at Mesa Gateway Airport?
Avelo Airlines, a commercial airline, has agreed to work with the Department of Homeland Security on a major deportation program. Today, the first flights took off from Mesa Gateway Airport. These are not regular passenger trips. Instead, they are flights made only for the purpose of sending people out of the United States 🇺🇸, either to other states or back to their home countries.
Here’s what we know about this operation:
– Airline involved: Avelo Airlines
– Partner: Department of Homeland Security
– Start date: May 12, 2025
– Place: Mesa Gateway Airport, Arizona
– Planes used: Three Boeing 737-800 aircraft just for these flights
– Who flies: People under final orders of removal—meaning the government has decided they must leave
These flights are part of what’s called a “charter program.” That means the government has booked the airplanes for a special purpose, not for regular passengers. Some flights are even considered “high-risk” charters. These are used for cases where the government thinks deportation needs to happen quickly or securely, like if the person is seen as a risk for not showing up for deportation on their own.
Avelo didn’t just loan some planes. The company created a whole new base at Mesa Gateway Airport just for this contract. That includes pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians, and local leaders just for these flights.
Why Are People Protesting?
As soon as the flights started, the protests did too. The group Gilbert Good Trouble called for people to gather at Mesa Gateway Airport starting at 9:00 AM this morning. Many arrived carrying signs, chanting, and calling for the flights to be stopped.
There are a few main reasons protesters say these flights are wrong:
- Due Process Issues: Protesters believe some people are being sent out of the country without a fair chance to present their case or see a judge. “Due process” is a legal term for the right to a fair hearing before being forced to leave or face punishment.
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Human Rights Concerns: Many believe these flights are part of a system that hurts vulnerable people. Protesters say it’s not right to send people away—sometimes to dangerous situations—without making sure their rights have been respected.
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Ethics and Money: Some protesters accuse Avelo Airlines of putting profits before people. They argue that by doing these flights, Avelo is making money from a system that causes suffering.
The pushback is not just at the airport. More than 35,000 people have signed a petition to boycott Avelo Airlines if the company keeps flying these deportation flights. One regular traveler with Avelo said: “I will not be booking with Avelo, unfortunately. It has been convenient and a pleasant experience for me thus far, but I cannot endorse these ICE flights.”
These voices show the depth of feeling around the flights and how the debate is not just about policy—it’s about values, ethics, and community.
Avelo Airlines’ Side of the Story
Aware of the protests and calls for a boycott, Avelo Airlines made a public statement. The airline said its top concern is “the safety of its employees and everyone involved.” The company also publicly supported the “people’s right to assemble,” recognizing the right to protest peacefully.
Avelo has said safety and keeping to the flight schedule are their main goals for this operation.
Andrew Levy, the company’s founder and CEO, shared more details back in April. He said the company thought “long and hard” before accepting the government contract. According to Levy: “After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come.”
Avelo’s message is simple: They need the government work to keep flights affordable for everyday people, especially since the economy is not doing well right now. They say the new deal will help the airline keep jobs for many employees.
The Political Background: Why Are These Deportation Flights Happening Now?
To understand why the Department of Homeland Security is making these flights now, it helps to know about the immigration policy of President Trump. The current administration has promised to carry out strong enforcement of U.S. 🇺🇸 immigration law.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the policy a few weeks ago: “As both President Trump and Secretary Noem have stated, if you register and leave voluntarily, you may have a chance to return legally in the future. If not, you will face arrest, fines, deportation, and be barred from returning to our country.”
This approach is popular with some voters and politicians who want stricter control of immigration and say the United States 🇺🇸 is simply enforcing its laws. Many see these deportation flights as an example of President Trump following through on a campaign promise to remove people who do not have legal permission to be in the country.
But there are also leaders who are against these efforts. For example, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker called the airline’s contract “deeply disappointing and disturbing” and said it goes against “New Haven’s values.”
This split between supporters and critics is not new. Immigration has long been a topic with strong opinions on both sides. These flights have made those divisions clear, not just in government, but in local communities, at airports, and even in everyday conversations.
Who Is Affected by the Deportation Flights?
The impact of these flights goes beyond just those being put on the plane. Several groups are affected, in both direct and indirect ways:
- Deported Individuals and Their Families: The most obvious impact is on those being sent out of the United States 🇺🇸. Some may face immediate danger or hardship back in their home countries. Their families and loved ones are left behind or must try to start new lives.
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Avelo Airlines Employees: Pilots, flight attendants, and ground crew now have to work in a new, high-stress environment. Some employees may feel uneasy about the work, while others may just be glad to have a job.
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Local Community in Mesa and Arizona: With protests and news coverage, Mesa Gateway Airport is now at the center of a national debate. How Mesa and surrounding cities respond could affect relationships between local people, immigrants, and city officials.
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Other Travelers: Regular passengers of Avelo Airlines might change their plans because of the new deportation flights, worried either about ethics or security at the airport.
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Wider Public and Advocacy Groups: These deportation flights are likely to spark more calls for change, protests, and even legal challenges.
How Does the Government Justify These Deportations?
The Department of Homeland Security says these flights are needed to enforce immigration law. To put it simply, when a non-citizen is told by a judge or the government that they must leave the country but doesn’t leave on their own, the government uses flights like these to remove them. In some cases, people being deported are told they can come back to the United States 🇺🇸 in the future, but only if they first leave voluntarily and then follow the legal process.
This is not a new practice. Deportation flights have happened for many years, under different presidents and both political parties. What’s new here is the focus on using commercial airlines like Avelo, and setting up long-term, regular flights from places like Mesa Gateway Airport.
For those who want more details about the removal process, the U.S. government offers clear information on how final orders of removal work and what happens during deportation on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official page.
The Ongoing Debate: Security, Jobs, and Human Rights
Supporters of the new flights focus on these points:
– The government has the right—and the duty—to carry out its laws.
– Using companies like Avelo helps keep government costs down.
– The operation brings jobs to the area and offers stability for airline workers.
Opponents say:
– Deportation often happens without fair process.
– The system may send people into unsafe or even deadly situations.
– It’s wrong for companies to profit from what protesters see as human suffering.
– The local area’s reputation can be hurt by being tied to these policies.
Both sides agree that the issue is larger than just one airline or one airport.
Reactions from Across the Country
The reaction to these flights has reached far beyond Mesa or even Arizona. Immigration advocacy groups, city leaders, and regular people all over the country are choosing sides.
A campaign to boycott Avelo Airlines got more than 35,000 supporters in just a few weeks. Some regular Avelo customers say they can’t fly with the company anymore because of its partnership with the government for deportation flights. While this may hurt the airline’s business, Avelo’s CEO believes the new deal is needed to keep prices low and employees paid during tough times.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these kinds of protests, especially when they are large and public, can shape how companies act in the future. Airlines and businesses must weigh the benefits of government contracts against possible backlash from their regular customers.
What Happens Next?
It’s clear the debate won’t end with today’s flights. Protests may continue, and more groups can join the boycott movement. If the flights remain in the news, elected leaders could face pressure to change policies or laws.
Avelo’s contract with the Department of Homeland Security is meant to be long-term. As months go by, we might see more charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport. It’s possible other airlines may be asked to join, or that growing protests could force changes in how deportations are handled.
As policies change at the government level, and as communities like Mesa respond, regular people will have to decide where they stand: with those who say secure borders are most important, or with those who place the highest value on the rights and treatment of those facing deportation.
Summary
- Avelo Airlines has started operating deportation flights with the Department of Homeland Security from Mesa Gateway Airport, using three aircraft for the program.
- Protests began right away, with groups claiming the flights violate due process and human rights.
- More than 35,000 people have threatened to boycott Avelo over the company’s role.
- Avelo defends its role, saying the contract keeps fares low and jobs secure during tough times.
- The operation fits with President Trump’s strict immigration policies, which are supported by some and heavily criticized by others.
- The story is part of a much bigger debate about law, ethics, jobs, and the treatment of immigrants in the United States 🇺🇸.
For readers who want to learn more or need help, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website has official information about how immigration laws work and the rights of those in the immigration process.
These new deportation flights at Mesa Gateway Airport show just how complicated and emotional the immigration debate is in the United States 🇺🇸. The future likely holds more protests, business choices, and policy debates as the country decides on its path forward.
Learn Today
Deportation flights → Special government-chartered flights used to remove individuals with final orders of removal from the United States.
Final orders of removal → Government or judge decisions requiring someone to leave the U.S. after all legal appeals are exhausted.
Charter program → A flight arrangement where the government books an airline specifically for deportation, not regular passengers.
Due process → The legal right to a fair hearing and judicial procedures before being deported or punished.
Department of Homeland Security → A U.S. government agency overseeing immigration enforcement, border security, and disaster response.
This Article in a Nutshell
Avelo Airlines launched deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport, Arizona, on May 12, 2025, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. The move sparked protests over human rights and due process. Critics decry profits over people, while Avelo claims the contract secures jobs and affordable prices for travelers.
— By VisaVerge.com
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