5/23/21

By Tom Cartwright

ICE Air Weekly Activity – Week of 17 May 2021.

 After 5 weeks of significantly elevated flights, driven by 14 lateral flights per week plus their connections and returns, this is the second week at a new normal. Total flights at 89 including 12 removal flights.

 Removal flights were very dispersed this week to 9 different countries which is unusual in one week. Central America, South America and the Caribbean all represented.

 Friday 7 May was the last of the lateral flights to date with one from Yuma to El Paso. Thursday, 6 May was the last lateral flight from Brownsville to San Diego. 1 May was the last lateral flight from Brownsville to El Paso (with the exception of a possible one on 5 May from Brownsville to Yuma to El Paso).

 However, these lateral flights from Brownsville were essentially replaced by bussing an additional 200-250 people per day from the RGV to Laredo with about 100 expelled in Nuevo Laredo, perhaps the most dangerous city in Mexico in that area. Moreover, even though in the State of Tamaulipas, they will accept children 6 and under in families.

 Over the last 10 weeks through 21 May, we have seen over 160 likely flights moving unaccompanied children from overcrowded CBP stations to the new EIS and influx centers and to possible ORR shelters. THEY ARE NOT IN THESE TOTALS as we do not consider them in the same category as ICE Air. Charters include 3 historic ICE Air Charter, Swift, Omni and World Atlantic, but these do not seem like ICE operations. Omni has not operated a flight is a few of weeks.

WEEKLY SUMMARY

- 89 Total Flights. Up 16 from last week, and 14 below the last 6-week average.

- 12 Removal (Deportation/Expulsions) – Up 2 from last week, and 2 over the prior 6-week average. To 9 different countries in Latin and South America, and the Caribbean.

- 8 connection flights. Up 2 from last week 2 above the prior 6-week average.

- 9 return flights. Up 2 from last week and 1 above the prior 6-week average, consistent with removal flights.

- 60 Shuffle flights. Up 8 from last week and 19 below the prior 6-week average. This drop is related to the suspension of lateral flights noted above.

- Haiti (1), up 1 from last week and this one was coupled with a flight to Trinidad. For the last 9 weeks flights have been 1 or 2 in almost every one of those weeks, with the exception of last week at 0.

- TPS for Haitians in the US was extremely welcome news today as announced by Sec. Mayorkas. It will protect 150,000 Haitians in the US from deportation to the dangers of Haiti for at least 18 months. Thanks to Guerline Josef and the Hatian Bridge Alliance and other advocates for their tireless advocacy.

- Mexico (2), Same as last 7 weeks, and 1/4 the run rate up until 2 months ago. Return cities were Villahermosa and Mexico City, same as last 5 weeks. In June there were 24 flights and then from July through Jan between 30 and 40. From Sept through Jan there were about 9 flights per week to 6 different cities, and similar to every week: Mexico City (2), Guadalajara (2), Puebla (1), Morelia (1), Villahermosa (1), and Queretaro (2). CBP refuses to answer our inquiry about the drop. We are still befuddled, especially as encounters, even considering recidivism.

- El Salvador (1), same as last 2 weeks and the same as 6 of last 7 weeks. Points to deportations only…not T42.

- Guatemala (1), same as last week and fairly consistent with the last 6 weeks. Points to deportations only…not T42.

- Ecuador (1), down last week, and follows 10 weeks at 1 per week and last 2 weeks at 2The flight was coupled with a Honduras flight as has been typical.

- Honduras (2), down 1 from last week, and follows 2 weeks at 3 per week. One was coupled with a flight to Ecuador.

- Trinidad (1), up 1 from last week and the first one since the week of 18 January. The flight was coupled with 1 to Haiti.

- Dominican (1), up 1 from last week and in the typical pattern of one every other week.

- Brazil (1), up 1 from last week and the first one since the week of 16 November.

- Guyana (1), It could be possible that this was a refuel stop for the Brazil removal flight, but it appears like it was a deportation stop, but we can’t be 100% sure. The first flight since the week of 21 September.

- NOTEWORTHY THIS WEEK

 Through April, 754,645 asylum seekers have been turned back and expelled under the illegal CDC order (title 42) since mid-March 2020, with 111,714 alone in April, or 63% of all encounters, down from the T-42 average of 75% (March2020-April 2021).

 The Detainee population increased 3,709 last week, as of 15 May, following an increase of 891 the prior week. The population has increased around 6,000 (42%) over the past 2 months after falling steadily since over the last year. The population increased to 20,430, the highest level since 4 September 2020. Book ins are up substantially.

 38,563 people have been deported this fiscal year (beginning Oct 1,2020), 1,538 the two weeks ending 8 May. The pace is fairly steady at around 3,200 deportations per month.

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.