Local Activists Join Multi-State Protest Against Avelo Airlines for Contracting With ICE

NEW HAVEN, CT — Saturday, from noon to 1:30 p.m., a coalition of immigrant rights organizations and social justice activists will gather at Tweed New Haven Airport to protest Avelo Airlines’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate deportation flights.

This local action is part of a nationwide week of protest against Avelo Airlines, with simultaneous rallies at 15 airports across 13 states, including Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, representing about one-third of the airports served by Avelo Airlines.

Matthew Boulay from the National Coalition to Stop Avelo said that, "Avelo has betrayed public trust."

"Not only with the cruelty of deportation flights but also by abandoning airport contracts and canceling routes without providing refunds," Boulay noted. "Avelo has shown a troubling disregard for community and customers."

Opposition to Avelo’s ICE contract began at Tweed New Haven in April 2025 when the airline first announced its decision to fly deportation flights.

Since then, protests have erupted across the country. Avelo signed a $150 million contract with ICE, sparking outrage among immigrant communities and advocates.

"It’s outrageous that Avelo profits by deporting people," said John Lugo of Unidad Latina en Acción in a recent interview. Support for the protests has come from prominent leaders, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and CT Attorney General William Tong.

A petition launched by the New Haven Immigrants Coalition has already gathered over 40,000 signatures demanding Avelo end its contract with ICE.

"We believe Avelo should not be flying deportation flights without due process and should not be profiting from family deportation," said James Salsich of MA/CT Stop Avelo. “We are protesting to demand that Avelo end its contract with ICE and stop these cruel and dangerous flights immediately.”

Organizers emphasize that the protest falls during the holiday travel season, when many families gather.

"Travelers should know when they fly Avelo, they are supporting a company that is profiting from pain," said Lugo. "We gather to acknowledge the newly empty seats at Thanksgiving tables caused by deportations."

The coalition includes MA/CT Stop Avelo, CT 50501, Connecticut DSA, Quiet Corner Indivisible-CT, Worth Fighting For, Thread City Indivisible, Unidad Latina en Accion, New Haven Immigrants Coalition, CT Students for a Dream, the National Immigration Law Center, Defend Public Health, Indivisible North Central CT, Indivisible Stamford, Indivisible Small and Mighty/Somers and the National Coalition to Stop Avelo.