4/24/20

By Tom Cartwright

DEATH FLIGHTS – 24 APRIL 2020

23 – Let that sink in 23 FLIGHTS TODAY

Ø ICE Air was incredibly mobile today. It makes us gasp at the thought of how much COVID was seeded and spread today alone. And it makes us wonder if ICE wanted to get as many deportations done before testing protocols are put in place (see last item below), or others suspend flights.

Ø Moreover, it was a very sad day as we reflect on just how heatless people can be. ICE deported today a 16-year old girl home to Honduras despite her claims that her father raped her and threats of violence for reporting that. The Young Center for Immigration advocated for her and did all they could do, but it did not move anyone in ICE or the administration. Witnessing, even virtually as we tracked the plane, left is with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.

Ø We also witnessed an “exception” flight to Guatemala with 13 unaccompanied children and a family of a mother and son. Although Guatemala’s suspension of deportation flights was allowed. The route of this flights for 15 people took us from San Antonio to Brownsville to El Paso and finally to Guatemala.

- We wonder if the 13 children will all find their way back to their families? Will anyone care enough to see to that? Certainly not ICE and the administration. They will feel no legal responsibility now that they are off our soil. And, unfortunately, they clearly feel no moral responsibility.

Ø As mentioned above, Guatemala continues to ban deportation flights. They now report 84 deportees delivered by ICE with COVID, up from 63 yesterday. The CDC felt the need to go down to validate, and from our understanding from reports from officials in Guatemala, they were validated.

Ø Pressure continues in other countries to stop deportation flights. Haiti doctors are pleading for a halt. Salvador has been bribed to continue in many ways and most recently today as trump tweeted that he would send ventilators there because they have “worked well with us on immigration at the Southern Border!” No need to read between the lines in my view.

Ø ICE is making a tepid attempt at mollifying the receiving countries by announcing they will secure 2,000 tests per month, only enough to test a portion of deportees. And that is if they are all used to test detainees. How many will be used each month to test staff and contractors? It’s achingly ironic that the reason given for not testing more is because of the shortage of tests available. That despite the persistent protestations by the president that there is NO testing shortage.

Ø The number of detainees positive continues to rise. Today at 317, up from 297 yesterday. The number tested is not frequently released and the last report by ICE was 425.

WITH THAT AS A BACKDROP HERE ARE TODAY’S 23 FLIGHTS

- PHOENIX to EL PASO

- El PASO to PUERTO RICO

- PUERTO RICO to BELO HORIZONTE BRAZIL

- MIAMI to PUERTO RICO

- PUERTO RICO to MIAMI

- MIAMI to DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC to MIAMI

- SAN ANTONIO to BROWNSVILLE

- BROWNSVILLE to EL PASO

- EL PASO to GUATEMALA

- GUATEMALA to BROWNSVILLE

- ALEXANDRIA (LA) to EL SALVADOR

- EL SALVADOR to PHOENIX

- EL PASO to ALEXANDRIA

- ALEXANDRIA (LA) to JACKSONVILLE

- JACKSONVILLE to RALEIGH

- RALEIGH to DENVER

- DENVER to ALEXANDRIA (LA)

- BROWNSVILLE to GARY

- GARY to ALEXANDRIA (LA)

- ALEXANDRIA (LA) to BROWNSVILLE

- BROWSVILLE to HONDURAS

- HONDURAS to ALEXANDRIA (LA)

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.