A Surge in Deportation Flights
In recent months, the United States has seen a dramatic increase in ICE flight. Data from various regions indicate that more detainees are being transported via air than ever before. For example, at Seattle’s Boeing Field, activists observed 42 deportation flights within the first six months of the year nearly matching the entire number from the previous year and more migrants were flown out in just half a year than in all of 2024 (Washington State Standard).
Flight Tracking Growingly Obscured
While deportation flights are on the rise, tracking them has become significantly harder. This is largely due to the removal of key identifiers such as tail numbers unique codes that allow flights to be easily tracked in public aviation databases. Since around March, ICE’s main contractors have increasingly requested that these numbers be omitted from flight logs, effectively shrouding deportation flights in secrecy (Межа, Globedge ,KING 5 News).
In addition, many flights now operate under “dummy” call signs, further obstructing efforts to follow their movements in real time (KING 5 News).
The Role of Private Contractors
ICE flight operations primarily involve private charter companies. Prominent among these are:
- CSI Aviation, serving as the primary contractor
- GlobalX Airlines and Eastern Air Express, operating as subcontractors
- Occasionally, military aircraft are also utilized (Межа. Новини України.).
In early 2025, CSI Aviation secured a contract worth $128 million, with total ICE air transport contracts exceeding $321 million underscoring the large scale, well funded nature of these operations (Межа. Новини України.).
Shedding Light: The ICE Flight Monitor
Amidst growing opacity, a beacon of accountability emerged: the ICE Flight Monitor. Originally spearheaded by Tom Cartwright, a retired financial executive turned volunteer researcher, this initiative has tracked over 40,000 ICE flights between 2020 and 2025. Recently, Human Rights First formally integrated the project, providing structural support for continued tracking and public reporting (Human Rights First).
This effort provides critical visibility into otherwise hidden deportation operations and supports advocacy, litigation, and congressional oversight.
Why Transparency Matters
- Protection of Rights & Due Process: Without public tracking, families and legal representatives may lose sight of where detainees are being transported.
- Oversight & Accountability: Civil society, journalists, and advocacy groups rely on transparency to monitor whether deportations adhere to legal and ethical standards.
- Erosion of Trust: The deliberate removal of tail numbers and the use of indistinct call signs erode public confidence in ICE operations, raising concerns of unchecked authority (Межа. Новини України., KING 5 News).
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Trend | ICE deportation flights are rising sharply |
| Tracking Challenges | Removal of tail numbers & fake call signs used to obscure flights |
| Contractors | CSI Aviation, GlobalX, Eastern Air Express (private & military aircraft involved) |
| Accountability Tool | ICE Flight Monitor (now part of Human Rights First) tracks flights independently |
| Significance | Highlights urgent need for transparency to uphold human rights & legal integrity |
In short, the sharp uptick in ICE organized deportation flights is being matched by a worrying plunge in transparency. While activists report more flights and detainees often monitored at facilities like Seattle’s Boeing Field the intentional obscurity of flight data poses serious obstacles to public oversight. The ICE Flight Monitor continues to serve as a vital instrument for reclaiming visibility, reinforcing the imperative for accountability in immigration enforcement.
