Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of those unmarked planes? US deportation flights are hitting unprecedented highs, but the airlines involved are working hard to keep them hidden from public view. Advocates are scrambling to track these crucial movements. What do you think about this new level of operational secrecy?
The United States is currently experiencing a dramatic surge in deportation flights, reaching unprecedented levels as reported by immigrant rights advocates. Simultaneously, the commercial airlines contracted for these operations have implemented new measures designed to obscure their flight paths and activities, making it increasingly challenging for the public and advocacy groups to monitor these critical movements. This intensified secrecy surrounding ICE operations raises significant concerns for transparency and oversight in federal immigration enforcement.
For years, advocates have meticulously tracked these flights, often relying on publicly accessible flight tracking websites to gather vital information. However, recent changes in airline practices, including the adoption of dummy call signs and the deliberate blocking of plane tail numbers from public view, have effectively pulled back the veil of visibility. This deliberate obfuscation directly impacts the ability of groups to fulfill their humanitarian missions, forcing them to devise new, more complex methods for surveillance.
The work of these dedicated immigrant rights groups is crucial. In the absence of official disclosures from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which rarely provides information on these flights, advocates play a vital role in helping families locate loved ones who have been deported. This citizen-led flight tracking has also proven invaluable for news organizations seeking to report accurately on the realities of immigration enforcement, contributing to a more informed public discourse.
Retired financial officer Tom Cartwright, now a dedicated tracker of these flights, recorded a staggering 1,214 deportation-related flights in July alone. This figure represents the highest monthly total since he began his monitoring efforts in January 2020. His data reveals that approximately 80% of these flights are operated by just three airlines: GlobalX, Eastern Air Express, and iAero Airways. These carriers transport individuals to other domestic airports for transfer to overseas flights or directly across borders, predominantly to Central American countries and Mexico, highlighting the vast scope of these border security activities.
Cartwright’s comprehensive tracking indicates a substantial increase in overall activity, with 5,962 flights observed through July—a 41% rise compared to the same period in 2024. These statistics, while extensive, primarily cover major deportation hubs and do not include activity from smaller airports like King County International Airport. Furthermore, his research has uncovered 68 military deportation flights since January, with 18 occurring in July, many of which were destined for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. This data underscores the multifaceted nature of these transport operations.
It is important to note that not all flights are direct deportations; many are involved in transferring individuals to or from immigration detention centers, or to airports situated near the U.S.-Mexico border. For instance, the group La Resistencia documented 1,023 immigrants brought into Tacoma, Washington, for detention and 2,279 flown out, often to border states. Guadalupe Gonzalez, an organizer, asserts that “ICE is doing everything in its power to make it as hard as possible to differentiate their contractors’ government activities from other commercial endeavors,” emphasizing the deliberate attempt to hide these operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permits carriers to obscure data such as tail numbers from public tracking websites through the Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) program. Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for FlightRadar24, confirmed that planes utilizing LADD appear as “N/A – Not Available” on tracking maps, with no listed destinations or arrival times. While LADD has been used historically for sensitive operations like presidential campaigns, Petchenik noted an unusual spike in LADD notices for over a dozen aircraft across multiple airlines in March, many of which were subsequently identified as being used for ICE deportations and transfers, adding to the humanitarian concerns.
Beyond blocking tail numbers, airlines involved in ICE contracts have also begun altering their standard call signs—the unique identifiers used by air traffic control. For example, GlobalX typically uses GXA, but recent months have seen these carriers employ different call signs, further complicating efforts to identify and monitor their immigration-related activities. This strategic move adds another layer of complexity for those attempting to maintain transparency.
Despite these challenges, some locations offer a unique window into these operations. King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field, is one of the few sites in the nation where county-operated cameras allow for public viewing of passengers boarding and deplaning. Volunteers from advocacy groups regularly gather to observe and document individuals, noting any signs of struggle or health issues. The county’s initiative to track these flights, established in 2023 after unsuccessful attempts to halt ICE operations, provides publicly accessible video footage, showcasing immigrants being processed and boarded onto planes, ensuring some level of public awareness and record-keeping.
