Avelo Boycott National Protest Demands End to Deportation Flights

 

New Haven was joined by 25 cities in a national day of protest on May 31. as the boycott of Avelo Airlines grows. demanding they end their contract with ICE for deportation flights.

During the seven hour vigil at Tweed Airport protesters lined the entrance gates “to mourn and stay in solidarity with those who have been and will be removed without due process,” said the Community Engagement Team of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition that organized the action.

Participants wore black funeral garb, brought flowers and images of those who have beem unlawfully removed.

Anger erupted in April when the deportation flights became known. Protests drew members of the immigrant community, clergy, state and local elected officials, and others who oppose the unprecedented mass deportation policies of the Trump administration being challenged in court.

A petition pledging to boycott the airlines until they stop the flights has garnered 38,000 signatures.

"This business decision of deporting using commercial planes contradicts New Haven's values, especially for a company that markets itself as 'New Haven's hometown airline,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “Travel should connect people, not separate families."

The deportation flights have operated began on May 12 from the Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona where protests have been held.

When Connecticut Attorney General William Tong requested information on the DHS contract and the flights, the company arrogantly directed him to make a “Freedom of Information Act” request. Tong also asked the airline to confirm that it won’t operate deportation flights from any Connecticut airport and that it will never operate flights with shackled children.

Reacting to the corporation's non-response Tong said, “It is clear all they intend to do is take state support and make money off other people’s suffering.” Avelo, which established operations in New Haven in November 2021, as its East Coast hub, enjoys an aviation fuel tax break from the State of Connecticut.

The national day of protest came two days after New Haven and five other Connecticut cities appeared on a DHS list of ​“sanctuary jurisdictions” that the Trump administration ordered to ​“immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.”

East Haven, Hamden, Hartford, New London, and Windham wee also on the list. 

Last December New Haven City government began working with immigrant rights groups and community allies to build relationships and prepare for whatever actions the federal administration would take against this City, a welcoming city since 2007. New Haven Immigrants Coalition, with a strong component of youth leaders, holds weekly know-your-rights trainings and has helped the city create a list of resources.

The city has joined San Francisco and several other municipalities suing the Trump administration in federal court arguing that withholding funds from municipalities that limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement is unconstitutional.

At a press conference called by Mayor Justin Elicker in response to the DHS list, he affirmed that New Haven is following the law and is proud to be a welcoming city.

“We are not afriad, they want us to be afraid, but we are going to come together,” said Ambar Santiago-Rojas a high school student and leader of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition, who had just helped lead a walkout of 300 students for school funding. “The undocumented community, and the Black community, and women, lgbtq+ and students must come together and we will come together,” she aid.

Rev. Scott Marks, director of New Haven Rising, the community organization related with Unite Here condemned the attack on the city saying, “Imagine the workers who make this city work, who are undocumented, the nervousness that they may have. We want to fight to make sure that this city remains safe.”

During the national day of protest against Avelo in New Hampshire, where Avelo Airlines flies routes out of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, proesters stood along I-293 exit in Manchester leading to the airport. Among them was State Rep. Seth Miller from Dover New Hampshire who purchased two billboards near Tweed New Haven Airport that read: “Does your vacation support their deportation? Just say AvelNO!” When the billboard company took down the ads Miller went to court suing Avelo on Firt Amendment grounds.

“I'm under no delusion that Avelo stopping these flights means these flights stop,” he said. “But it makes it a little harder, makes it a little more expensive. It means other people have to do it. And once that's done, we'll go after the next ones.” said Miller.

 

Lakeland is one of three cities in Florida that held actions on the national day of protest, along with Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Sarasota.. "Avelo is a financially struggling company, poorly managed, poorly financed and by their own admission is taking the ICE contract in order to maintain their bottom line and to profit," said Matthew Boulay at a press conference called by the Stop Avelo campaign in Lakeland. "It’s profit over people. It’s blood money. It’s shameful." he said.

 

A protest in Houston, Texas was held outside Avelo Airlines national headquarters on Greenway Plaza. In Rochester, New York protesters held signs and banners on the Brooks Avenue overpass at I-390 near the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport opposing Avelo's collaboration with ICE deportation flights. 

 

Protests were held in three Oregon cities including at the Eugene Airport, Mahlon Sweet Field, from which Avelo operates weekly flights directly to the Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles. where a protest was also held. Organized by Indivisible the call said:. “Let’s stand together against fascism, family separation, and corporate complicity. No more silence. No more flights. #StopAvelo.” .

 

California's US Senator Alex Padilla said in a news release “Given the Trump Administration’s mission to indiscriminately deport our nation’s immigrants – without due process, in violation of the Constitution and federal immigration law, and, in some cases, in defiance of court orders – it is deeply disturbing that Avelo has determined that its partnership with ICE is ‘too valuable not to pursue.” 

 

Protests were also held in Albany, New York; Arcata, Santa Clarita and Sonoma California; Chicago, Detroit; Kalispell, Montana; Las Vegas; McLean, Virtinia; Medford and Salem Oregon; Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington North Carolina; Traverse City, Michigan and Wilmington, Delaware