Tracking Daily Deportation Flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul
Nick Benson has been documenting daily deportation flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. He observes and counts individuals boarding chartered planes. These individuals are immigration detainees, often shackled, and are being flown out of Minnesota as part of a federal immigration campaign initiated in December.
Flight Frequency and Data Collection
Federally chartered deportation flights, referred to as ICE Air operations by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have occurred under previous administrations. However, an advocacy initiative called ICE Flight Monitor reports that their frequency and scope have significantly increased during the current administration. Information regarding passengers and flight data is difficult to obtain from official sources.
Benson, an airplane enthusiast, began tracking these flights to collect quantitative data, citing a lack of official transparency. He runs an app for tracking unusual planes and dedicates time, sometimes with short notice, to observe these flights.
Official Responses and Independent Tracking
NPR requested data on individuals detained and flown out of Minnesota from DHS. In response, DHS stated that 3,500 arrests had been made during the operation but did not provide specifics on the destination of those individuals or the number deported from Minnesota.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement asserting that "President Trump and Secretary Noem are putting the American people first by removing illegal aliens who pose a threat to our communities."
Benson, working with the Minneapolis-based activist group MN50501, maintains detailed spreadsheets for each flight, recording date, time, tail number, airline, and passenger count. In January alone, he documented 42 flights. For one observed flight, 19 individuals were counted; on other occasions, counts exceeded 100.
Benson estimates that 2,339 people were transported out of Minnesota in January, when daily flights commenced.
Advocacy Group Perspective
Savi Arvey, who oversees ICE Flight Monitor (an initiative by Human Rights First), confirms that Benson's ground observations are valuable, as her team tracks flights but lacks visibility into passenger numbers. Arvey states that such observations are "essential."
Immigration lawyers and advocates have raised concerns that detainees are frequently transferred to the airport quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours of detention, which is facilitated by the daily flights. Concerns include individuals being deported without due process, without having asylum claims heard, or after temporary protected status has been revoked.
Future Plans
Administration officials have indicated intentions to expand ICE Air operations to support mass deportations. Reports indicate that DHS has contracted to acquire six 737 aircraft to establish its own fleet.
Benson intends to continue his documentation efforts despite the emotional impact of witnessing the deportations.