U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights on May 17, 2023 in Washington, DC.
The illegal immigrants were deported back to the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Israel. The United States has a longstanding policy of removing foreign nationals who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States. This policy applies to all non citizens irregardless of nationality.ICE Air Operations facilitates the transfer and removal of non citizens via commercial airlines and chartered flights in support of ICE field offices and other U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiatives.
In fiscal year 2022, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 72,177 removals to more than 150 countries worldwide.ICE conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the U.S., including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Non citizens placed into removal proceedings receive their due process from immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Due to operational security reasons, ICE does not confirm or discuss future or pending transportation operations.
