U.S. ICE’s Recent Removal Flights Initiative

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has recently conducted several removal flights. These flights included single adults and family units to various countries such as Central America, Colombia, Dominican Republic, India, Romania, and Venezuela from January 8 to 12.

Overview of ICE’s Enforcement Actions

Significant Numbers in Removals

Since May 12, DHS has removed or returned over 482,000 individuals, the majority of whom crossed the Southwest Border. This includes more than 81,000 individual family members. In just seven months, these figures nearly exceed the total number removed and returned in all of Fiscal Year 2019 and surpass the annual totals from 2015 to 2018. Daily removals and enforcement returns are almost double compared to the pre-pandemic average from 2014-2019.

Adherence to Legal and International Standards

In compliance with U.S. laws and international obligations, the United States ensures that all noncitizens without a legal basis to remain in the country are properly screened for valid protection claims and withholding of removal. This applies universally, regardless of nationality, to ensure orderly and humane processing, transfer, and removal of single adults and family units.

The Process of Removal Proceedings

Immigration Courts’ Role

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings have the opportunity to present their claims for relief or protection from removal before immigration judges in the immigration courts. These courts are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. For operational security reasons, ICE does not confirm or discuss future or pending transportation operations.

ICE Air Operations

ICE Air Operations supports the transfer and removal of noncitizens, including family units, via commercial airlines and chartered flights. This effort is in support of ICE field offices and other DHS initiatives. In fiscal year 2023, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 142,580 removals and 62,545 Title 42 expulsions to more than 170 countries worldwide.