1/30/31
By Tom Cartwright
ICE Air Weekly Activity – Week of 25 January 2021.
Ø Despite 2 days of the 100-day moratorium, and a new Administration, total ICE Air flights this week were equal to the prior 6-week average.
Ø It is curious to me that the Biden Administration has not found a way with or without a moratorium, to reduce the number of ICE Air removal and domestic flights.
Ø This week, 20 deportation/expulsion flights to 7 different countries and 79 total ICE Air flights. 2 over the prior 6-week average.
Ø In an effort to understand the mix of people deported and expelled I requested from ICE information for 12 flights, half during the moratorium, and half the week before. I was told I needed to file a FOIA because of the effort. I appealed asking for only 2-3 of today’s flights to try to understand quickly. Pending fulfillment decision.
Photo of Jan 29 flight to Honduras by Frances Kelley who witnessed the flight.
WEEKLY SUMMARY
79 Total Flights. Up 8 from last week, and equal to the last 6-week average. (includes 3 flights expected as always on Saturday)
20 Deportation/Expulsions – Up 4 from last week, and 2 above the prior 6-week average. To 7 different countries in Latin America the Caribbean.
Honduras (1), Down 1 from last week. For the 9 weeks before the last week of December there were no flights because of the suspension following the 2 hurricanes. When they resumed, for two weeks there were flights Monday, Wednesday and Friday until moratorium Friday. The only flight this week was Friday. I would not be surprised to see more than 1 next week. Given the damage and lack of basic services it is unconscionable to return to deportation/expulsion flights. Ironic in light of 6,000-9,000 trying to flee and stopped by police and the military in Guatemala at the same time. Pressure is building in Honduras and that will push more to leave.
Guatemala (2), up 1 from last week, and now seems to alternate 1 and then 2 per week. That would mean 1 next week. We’ll see. We don’t know why the flights have reduced, except maybe fewer crossings. In November there were 17 flights and in December 9. Based on patterns there may be 6-7 in January.
Mexico (9), Up 2 from last week only because of last Friday’s moratorium halt. August was 7 per week and August through November stepped up to 9 every week. Flights to 6 different cities this week, and similar to every week: Mexico City (2), Guadalajara (2), Puebla (1), Morelia (1), Villahermosa (1), and Queretaro (2).
El Salvador (4), Up 3 from last week which was halt-impacted because flights are generally on Friday. Flights are somewhat erratic with flights over the last 6 weeks of 3,1,4,3,1,4. It should be noted that 2 flights were coupled with flight to Ecuador, and 1 coupled with one to Guatemala.
**Jamaica (1), up 1 from last week and very sporadic and the first since mid-December. Every 4-6 weeks is typical.
Columbia (1), up 1 from last week and in pattern at about every 4 weeks.
Ecuador (2), up 2 from last week which was unusually at 0. Alternates between 1 or 2 per week and generally coupled with an El Salvador flight, as both were this week.
Next week expectations. If it is a typical week, in addition to the comments above, I would anticipate a flight to Haiti and to Dominican and we are hearing from those in detention maybe one to Africa, perhaps Angola and even Cameroon which is in the middle of a dangerous separatist conflict. We have been fighting along with advocates against these flights particularly hard because with MOCs, because of the severe risk, but with no success. Now?
The domestic flights shuffling people between detention centers at 27 was tied for the lowest in at least the last 4 months. It could have just been an anomaly, or, it could be in anticipation of fewer removal flights. Hope.
Hopefully, we will hear some news about challenges to the pause of the deportation pause than now could last until 23 February.
14 Deportation Connects, up 4 from last week and 2 above the last 6-week average and consistent with increase in deportations.
18 Deportation Returns, up 5 from last week, and 3 above the prior 6-week average and consistent level of deportations.
27 Shuffle flights in the US, down 5 from last week, and 7 below the last 6-week average. This is tied (with Christmas week) for the lowest week in at least 4 months.
Ø NOTEWORTHY THIS WEEK
Ø The Detainee population decreased 700 last week, and for some reason has not been updated since the 15th. That reduction follows a decrease of 622 the prior week. We have not seen this pace of decrease since Oct/Nov 2020. Unclear as to why. The population decreased to 14,715 and is under half of what it was at the end of February. The decrease over the last 4 weeks has been 748.
Ø Through December, 393,000 asylum seekers have been turned back and expelled under the illegal CDC order (title 42) since mid-March, 61,000 alone in December, or 85% of all encounters, down from the usual 90%. November, Encounters and expulsions have flattened over the last 3 months. The Court order that now prohibits unaccompanied children from being expelled under Title 42. may now be under pressure although I can’t believe the Biden Administration will reverse course.
Ø 9,099 detainees have tested positive for COVID, up this week by 251 or 3%. Testing increased last week by 3,638 to 86,223 on a cumulative basis, so the positivity rate was around 11%. There are 519 detainees in isolation of under monitoring, down from last week.
Note: ICE Air does not disclose their flights. Flight listing gleaned from public flight information, knowledge of detention center locations, air charter services and historic patterns. In rare cases, there may be a flight we miss, or include in error.