Boycott forces Avelo to End Deportation Flights

A major victory was won last week when Avelo Airlines announced they are ending their contract to conduct deportation flights for ICE with DHS. On January 27 they will leave Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, where the flights departed.

Last April when news of the ICE flights surfaced in New Haven, outraged immigrant rights groups, state and local elected officials and clergy launched the boycott. It spread across the country and soon Avelo ws forced to end west coast flights.

Avelo claimed they contracted with DHS for financial reasons. The boycott showed that trying to profit from deportations and family separation does not pay off.

The New Haven boycott against it's “hometown airline” at Tweed New Haven airport was soon joined by 25 cities.

During a national day of protest last May, one of many vigils at the entrance to the New Haven airport was led by the New Haven Immigrants Coalition “to mourn and stay in solidarity with those who have been and will be removed without due process.”

A New Hampshire resident purchased two billboards near the airport saying “Does your vacation support their deportation? Just say AvelNO!”

The mayor of New Haven banned all business with the airline for City travel, as did the Wilmington, Delaware City Council

Attorney General William Tong began investigating Avelo's fuel tax break with the State. Upon hearing of the company's break with DHS Tong said, “If this means that Avelo is no longer electing to profit from Trump’s cruel and reckless deportation program, the separation of families, deportation of children and citizens, and denial of due process rights, then it’s about time.”

At a New Haven press conference attended by over 100 the day after the announcement, Kica Matos president of the National Immigration Law Center declared,“We organized, we protested, we boycotted, and we said we would not stop until Avelo stopped being complicit in human suffering. Today, we celebrate. Let this be a reminder that when we fight, we win.”

The rally also protested the cold blooded murder of Rene Good by an ICE official in Minnesota.