Democrats Propose Legislation Targeting Airlines Supporting ICE Flights

Key Takeaways

• New York bill penalizes airlines helping ICE deport without judicial warrants.
• CSI Aviation holds $128M contract for ICE flights using subcontractor GlobalX.
• Trump administration imposed fines up to $998 daily for immigration removals.

New York Democrats Move to Penalize Airlines Working With ICE: What It Means for Immigration Enforcement

New York Democratic lawmakers have launched a new legislative effort aimed at airlines that help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transport detained immigrants. This move, announced on May 27, 2025, comes as part of a broader pushback against the Trump administration’s strict immigration enforcement policies. The proposed law could reshape how airlines operate in New York and highlights growing tension between state and federal authorities over immigration.

This article explains what the new legislation proposes, how ICE deportation flights work, the political and economic stakes, and what it all means for immigrants, airlines, and the public.

New York Democrats Introduce Bill Targeting Airlines Aiding ICE

Who is involved?
The main sponsors are New York State Senator Pat Fahy and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages. They are joined by other Democrats in the state legislature, including Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, who has spoken out strongly against President Trump’s immigration policies.

What does the bill do?
The legislation targets airlines that work with ICE to transport detained immigrants, especially when those immigrants have not received proper legal protections. The bill would:

• Ban airlines from state contracts if they fly people to ICE detention centers without a valid judicial warrant.
• Remove financial perks like fuel tax exemptions from airlines that ignore due process rights.
• Apply these penalties moving forward to airlines that do not make sure detained people have had a chance to see a lawyer and attend an immigration hearing.

Why now?
This bill is part of a larger package of state-level resistance to federal immigration enforcement. New York Democrats say they want to protect the rights of immigrants and push back against what they see as overreach by the Trump administration. Assemblymember Forrest summed up the mood, saying, “He is going too far. When you go too far, here in New York State, we say hell no.”

Where does this fit in the bigger picture?
The bill builds on earlier efforts like the New York for All Act, which aims to limit how much state and local police can work with federal immigration agents.

How ICE Deportation Flights Work

Who Runs These Flights?

The main company flying ICE deportation flights right now is CSI Aviation. On February 28, 2025, ICE gave CSI Aviation a no-bid contract worth up to $128 million. This contract started on March 1, 2025, and can last at least six months, with a possible extension to one year.

CSI Aviation uses other companies, called subcontractors, to fly these planes. The most important subcontractor is GlobalX. In 2024, GlobalX flew 74% of ICE’s 1,564 removal flights, according to data from immigration activist Tom Cartwright.

What Has Happened Recently?

Some recent deportation flights have caused a lot of controversy:

• In late February and early March 2025, GlobalX planes flew 238 people accused of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang and 23 people said to be MS-13 members to El Salvador and Honduras.
• These flights left from Harlingen, Texas, even though a court order tried to stop them more than 45 minutes before the first plane landed.
• The Trump administration says it did not purposely ignore the court order.
• Families of at least four people deported say their relatives were wrongly labeled as gang members.

The Bigger Immigration Enforcement Picture

New Laws: The Laken Riley Act

In January 2025, Congress passed the Laken Riley Act with support from both parties (263-156 in the House, including 46 Democrats). This law:

• Requires DHS to detain any undocumented person charged with, arrested for, or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
• The Senate expanded the law to cover crimes that cause death or serious injury, or assault on a police officer.
• ICE’s own analysis says carrying out this law would cost $26.9 billion in the first year, but ICE’s yearly budget is only about $9 billion.

New Trump Administration Policies

Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, his administration has taken several tough steps:

• Ended parole protections for nearly one million migrants who entered the United States 🇺🇸 using the Biden-era CBP One app.
• Started daily fines of up to $998 for people who do not leave the United States after a removal order. These fines can be applied retroactively for up to five years.
• Looked into seizing assets from migrants who cannot pay these fines.
• Revoked Social Security numbers for migrants who lose their legal status, cutting off their access to jobs, banking, and government help.
• Added more than 6,000 migrants to the Social Security Administration’s “Death Master File,” including minors and people flagged as “suspected terrorists” or with criminal records.

Data Collection and Privacy: How Airlines Share Information With ICE

A less visible but important part of immigration enforcement is how airlines share passenger data with the government:

• The Airlines Reporting Corporation has contracts with ICE and other agencies to give them passenger information.
• This data includes full flight details, names, and financial information.
• The company received at least $600,000 in federal contracts in 2025 and about $700,000 in 2024.
• Privacy advocates worry this data could be misused, especially during the current crackdown on immigrants.

If you want to know more about how ICE handles removal operations, you can visit the official ICE Removal Operations page.

Political Tensions: Democrats, ICE, and Congressional Oversight

The fight over immigration enforcement has led to heated political arguments:

• On May 20, 2025, a House Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing on ICE operations. The session was filled with partisan debate.
• The main topic was charges against New Jersey Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver, who was involved in a protest outside the Delaney Hall detention center on May 9.
• Democrats said these charges were meant to scare elected officials who oppose Trump’s immigration policies.
• Republicans argued that McIver and other New Jersey Democrats, like Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, acted inappropriately and put themselves and others at risk.

How Airlines and the Industry Are Responding

Avelo Airlines, which is the main target of the New York bill, has responded carefully:

“Avelo Airlines is proud to offer low airfares and the most reliable scheduled service operation in the country. We will closely monitor the proposed legislation to understand how it may impact our service within the State of New York.”

Avelo currently flies out of Albany, Rochester, Long Island MacArthur, and Binghamton airports in New York. If the bill passes, it could affect Avelo’s business in the state.

New York Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, a Republican, criticized the Democrats’ approach. He said they use “economic warfare” too often and pointed to past efforts targeting companies like Chick-fil-A and Tesla.

What’s at Stake for Immigrants, Airlines, and the Public?

For Immigrants

• Due Process Rights: The New York bill aims to protect immigrants’ rights to see a lawyer and have a fair hearing before being deported.
• Risk of Deportation: With more aggressive ICE operations, immigrants in New York and across the United States 🇺🇸 face a higher risk of being detained and removed, sometimes without full legal review.
• Privacy Concerns: Sharing passenger data with ICE means immigrants’ travel plans could be tracked, raising fears about privacy and safety.

For Airlines

• Financial Penalties: Airlines that work with ICE could lose state contracts and tax breaks in New York.
• Business Decisions: Airlines must decide whether to keep working with ICE or risk losing business in a big state like New York.
• Public Image: Airlines face pressure from both sides—some want them to stop helping ICE, while others support strict immigration enforcement.

For the Public

• Economic Impact: If airlines pull out of New York or lose business, it could mean fewer flights, higher prices, or lost jobs at airports.
• Political Debate: The fight between state and federal governments over immigration is likely to continue, affecting laws, elections, and public opinion.

What Happens Next?

The New York legislative session is ending soon, so Democrats are moving quickly to pass the bill. But this is just one part of a bigger, ongoing struggle between states like New York and the federal government over immigration.

Looking ahead, we can expect:

1. More state-level resistance in places where Democrats control the government.
2. Continued ICE deportation flights using contractors like CSI Aviation and GlobalX.
3. Possible court battles over both federal enforcement and state resistance laws.
4. Ongoing political fights as Democrats and Republicans argue over how to handle immigration.

The outcome will affect not just immigrants and airlines, but also the wider public and the future of immigration policy in the United States 🇺🇸.

Practical Guidance for Stakeholders

For Immigrants and Families:

• Know your rights: If you or a loved one is facing deportation, ask for a lawyer and a hearing. You can find resources through local legal aid groups or immigrant advocacy organizations.
• Be aware of travel risks: Airlines may share passenger data with ICE, so consider this when making travel plans.
• Stay informed: Laws and policies are changing quickly. Check trusted sources like USCIS for updates.

For Airlines and Businesses:

• Review contracts: Make sure you understand how new state laws could affect your business with ICE.
• Monitor legislation: Stay up to date on bills in states where you operate, especially if you have contracts with federal agencies.
• Consider public relations: Think about how your company’s choices on immigration issues may affect your reputation.

For Policymakers and Advocates:

• Watch for legal challenges: Both sides may take these issues to court, which could set new rules for how states and the federal government interact on immigration.
• Engage with communities: Listen to the concerns of immigrants, airline workers, and the public to shape fair and effective policies.

Conclusion

The new push by New York Democrats to penalize airlines working with ICE is a major development in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸. It shows how state governments can try to limit federal actions they see as unfair, especially when it comes to protecting immigrants’ rights. At the same time, it puts airlines in a tough spot, caught between state laws and federal contracts.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these changes are part of a larger trend of states taking action on immigration, especially when they disagree with federal policies. The coming months will likely bring more legal battles, political fights, and changes that affect immigrants, businesses, and communities across the country.

For more information on ICE removal operations and your rights, visit the official ICE Removal Operations page.

Staying informed and prepared is the best way to handle these fast-changing times—whether you are an immigrant, a business, or a concerned member of the public.

Learn Today

ICE → Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a U.S. federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and deportation.
Due process → Legal rights ensuring detainees receive fair treatment, including access to lawyers and hearings before deportation.
No-bid contract → A government contract awarded without competitive bidding, often to expedite urgent or specialized services.
Deportation flight → Aircraft used by ICE to transport detained immigrants out of the United States.
Laken Riley Act → A 2025 federal law requiring detention of undocumented immigrants charged with certain crimes.

This Article in a Nutshell

New York Democrats introduced legislation to penalize airlines assisting ICE deportations without due process. The bill restricts state contracts and tax benefits, highlighting rising tensions between state and federal immigration policies amid increased deportation flights and political debate.
— By VisaVerge.com