Increased ICE flights, yet tracing these airborne operations has become remarkably challenging
In recent administrations, there has been a significant increase in the volume and expansiveness of immigration flights, a trend that has sparked concerns about transparency, accountability, and human rights.
Last July, a record high of 727 domestic "shuffle flights" of ICE detainees were reported, compared to 207 deportation flights. This surge in flights has been accompanied by a decrease in openness, with June 2025 seeing a record 209 removal flights but minimal transparency. This lack of transparency has heightened concerns about how deportation flights are planned and executed.
The ICE Flight Monitor, led by Tom Cartwright and now housed at Human Rights First, has been instrumental in providing detailed insights into ICE operations. Between 2020 and 2025, over 40,000 flights were tracked, offering a crucial window into previously opaque operations.
However, concerns about accountability persist. The future of deportation rates and transparency will depend on policy choices and diplomatic agreements. There is a call for restoring fuller reporting to ensure public oversight. The rise in deportation flights and reduced transparency have led to legal challenges and advocacy efforts over due process and oversight.
There are also concerns about gross human rights violations, including enforced disappearance and refoulement, which underscore the need for increased accountability and transparency in ICE operations.
Among the top subcontractors for ICE flights in July were GlobalX, Eastern Air Express, and Avelo Airlines. La Resistencia, an advocacy group, expressed concern about transparency in the administration of ICE flights, stating that if human rights violations occur without observation, they are worried they will go unnoticed.
La Resistencia reported that ICE flights are masking their tail numbers and changing their air traffic call signs to make their activities harder to observe. This obfuscation of operations adds to the concerns about transparency and accountability.
The largest private contractor for ICE Air is CSI Aviation, acting as the federal government’s main broker for subcontracting flights and related operations. In February 2025, CSI Aviation won an award of $128 million for ICE flight operations, with the contract now being worth over $321 million. The CEO of CSI Aviation, Allen Weh, is a GOP donor who has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the party and its candidates.
Eastern Air Express, another top subcontractor for ICE flights, owned and operated a 737 used for the Trump/Vance campaign, further blurring the lines between political campaigns and immigration enforcement.
As the number of immigration flights continues to rise, it is crucial that efforts are made to increase transparency, ensure accountability, and protect human rights. The ongoing concerns highlight the need for vigilant oversight and advocacy in the face of these challenges.
