Airline’s New DHS Partnership Sparks Debate in Arizona Community

Airplane on runway during sunset with lights on

Avelo Airlines’ new partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to operate deportation flights from Arizona is causing community uproar.

Quick Takes

  • Avelo Airlines initiates deportation flights with Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Mesa, Arizona.
  • The collaboration aims to aid DHS and ICE in mass deportations.
  • Community protests and safety concerns surround the controversial agreement.
  • Details of the partnership, including flight destinations, remain undisclosed.

Avelo’s Unconventional Role

Avelo Airlines, known for serving smaller U.S. cities, is entering a new arena through a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. This indicates a strategic move to maintain and expand its business operations. Beginning flights from Mesa Gateway Airport, Avelo plans to use three Boeing 737-800 aircraft for deportation missions managed under a charter contract with CSI Aviation, a company experienced in such logistics.

According to CEO Andrew Levy, the decision to engage in deportation flights underscores efforts to sustain and grow the airline’s core operations, thus ensuring job security for its over 1,100 crew members. He remarked, “We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. 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 crew members employed for years to come.”

Community and Union Response

Despite Avelo’s business rationale, the partnership has ignited a backlash. The New Haven Immigrants Coalition initiated a campaign demanding the halt of these deportation flights, emphasizing the impact on families and legal residents. The coalition urged a boycott, stating, “We demand that AVELO AIR halt plans to carry out deportation flights in cooperation with the Trump Administration. We pledge to boycott the airline until they stop plans to profit off ICE flights that are tearing families and communities apart and removing some legal residents, such as Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, with no recourse for returning to their families.”

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA expressed grave concerns over safety, especially in emergencies involving handcuffed individuals. They highlighted the risks of evacuating restrained passengers, saying, “Flight Attendants are charged with the safety and health of the passengers on our flights and to evacuate an airplane in 90 seconds or less in the event of an emergency. Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation and risk injury or death.”

The Larger Picture

This partnership is part of a broader initiative aligning with the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign for mass deportations. It builds on their agenda, including the GOP tax bill designed to allocate funds for deporting 1 million immigrants each year while expanding ICE personnel. Mesa, Arizona, serves as an integral hub for ICE Air operations, previously managing nearly 8,000 flights annually.

While Avelo’s move could benefit the airline in job retention and expansion, it undoubtedly places it under scrutiny amidst a contentious immigration enforcement climate. The lack of details on the flights’ destinations only adds to the uncertainty and tension surrounding this issue.

Sources:

  1. Budget airline begins deportation flights
  2. Avelo Airlines kicks off deportation flights for ICE from Arizona
  3. Avelo Airlines carries out deportation flights for ICE | AP News

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