MA Gov. Healey Demands ICE To Halt Deportation Flights From MA Airport

BEDFORD, MA — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey demanded Immigrations and Custom Enforcement immediately halt deportation flights from Hanscom Field airport in Bedford.

"It has come to my attention that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as part of its disturbing and anti American deportation tactics, is using private aircrafts at Hanscom Field airport in Massachusetts to quickly remove residents and sever them from their family, friends, and counsel without due process of law," Healey said in a Friday letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons.

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"Flying these residents out of state and away from their support systems and legal counsel —often within hours of arrest is intentionally cruel and purposely obstructs the due process and the legal representation they are owed," Healey said. "This is not the justice we believe in or stand for in Massachusetts or as Americans. This practice must stop."

Massport Director of Media Relations Jennifer B. Mehigan said the authority is not involved in the coordination of the deportation flights.

"Massport does not receive prior knowledge of these flights, nor does the Authority have a role in their operation," Mehigan said in an email.

"Massport cannot discriminate who can or cannot use the airport," Mehigan said. "Public use airports like Hanscom are required to accommodate all flights to the airport, including those by or on behalf of the federal government."

In her letter, Healey pointed out that a "significant majority of people detained by ICE in Massachusetts over the past year have no criminal convictions or charges."

They are hard-working, productive, and beloved members of our community that you have indiscriminately targeted for deportation proceedings," she said. "Many of them are in the midst of a lawful process seeking citizenship through Massachusetts courts. This doesn't make our communities safer — it in fact makes us all less safe."

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ICE failed to respond to a request for comment on Healey's letter, in which she told ICE to not only using Hanscom field for deportation flights, but stop them in all the state's airports.

"As Governor, I am writing to demand that ICE immediately stop using any Massachusetts airports and private jets to deport residents and obstruct due process, and to halt this practice across this country," Healey said.

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