What You Need to Know About ICE Air Deportation Flights
- Shan Potts
- Jul 14, 2025
- 3 min read
In a recent exposé published by The Verge and The Guardian, the existence and operations of ICE Air deportation flights came under public scrutiny again. Often described as a “secret airline,” ICE Air is a fleet of government-chartered planes used to deport thousands of migrants from the United States to over 40 countries—often at odd hours, from remote airports, and with little notice.
According to the report, ICE Air conducted over hundreds of deportation flights in the past few months alone. These flights often remove people before they’ve exhausted legal remedies or had access to counsel.
Most alarmingly, ICE Air deportation flights are poised to become the backbone of a much larger mass removal plan, particularly under new policy directives expanding third-country removals.
The Analysis: How ICE Air Deportation Flights Work
ICE Air is not a public airline. It is a privately contracted fleet operated on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, primarily by charter services like Swift Air and iAero Airways. These planes:
Depart from remote airfields (not commercial terminals)
Are staffed by ICE officers and contracted guards
Operate at odd hours, making legal intervention difficult
Transport people in full restraints — including shackles, belts, and handcuffs
The conditions have been described as inhumane by former passengers and watchdog groups:
No medical screening before boarding
No information about where individuals are being taken
Limited water and food
No family notification
In many cases, migrants are transferred without knowing where they are going until they land.
What It Means for the Immigrant Community
The expansion of ICE Air deportation flights means that:
Speed of removal has increased dramatically
Legal counsel may not be able to act fast enough to stop unjust removals
People with pending asylum or humanitarian claims could be deported in the middle of their legal process
Deportations are being outsourced and anonymized — without public visibility or judicial accountability
Those living in detention centers or under ICE supervision are especially vulnerable. A person could be moved from a detention center in Arizona to a plane in Louisiana and out of the U.S. within 24–48 hours.
Shan Potts Law Offices’ Perspective
At Shan Potts Law Offices, we see ICE Air deportation flights as a systemic threat to due process.
Shan Potts explains:
“ICE Air is designed to remove people before they have a fair chance to fight their case. It’s deportation by stealth. Our job is to intervene before a client ends up on one of those planes.”
Our team has experience challenging:
Unlawful detentions
Improper removal orders
Deportations that violate due process and human rights obligations
We monitor flight schedules, ICE transfer patterns, and court order timelines to act fast.
Next Steps for At-Risk Immigrants
If you or someone you know is under ICE supervision or in detention:
Know your A-number and case status at all times
Have a lawyer ready to file a stay of removal or motion to reopen
Inform your family where you are being held
Stay off the radar if you have unresolved legal vulnerabilities
At Shan Potts Law Offices, we’re providing:
Emergency representation for detainees
Stay-of-removal services
Flight intervention requests through immigration court
ICE Air deportation flights are more than just planes—they’re part of a system that seeks to remove people faster than they can be defended. But you still have rights. And we’re here to protect them.
Contact Shan Potts Law Offices today to get the representation you need—before it’s too late.
(Source: The Verge)