Feds Using Commercial Flights for Immigrant Detention

Thu Mar 26 2026 23:25:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Recent video footage reveals the use of commercial flights to transfer detained immigrants, shedding light on a less visible aspect of immigration enforcement.

Security footage from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport shows a 5-year-old boy, who became a symbol of the immigration crackdown, being escorted onto a Delta flight by federal agents. This incident highlights a shift towards using commercial airlines for transporting detained immigrants, alongside the traditional charter flights used by ICE. Human rights advocates are raising concerns about the lack of transparency in these operations, as the public strives to monitor immigration enforcement practices.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Airport security video shows federal agents taking immigrants to detention centers using commercial flights, sometimes blending into regular passenger traffic.

This footage features a 5-year-old boy, wearing a bunny hat while being escorted through the Minneapolis airport, who garnered attention during an immigration crackdown. The boy and his father were taken to Texas on a Delta Air Lines flight just one day after their detention.

Despite appearing calm, Adrian Conejo Arias and his son, Liam Conejo Ramos, were subtly escorted through the airport in plain clothes by agents, likely unnoticed by other passengers.

While ICE continues to rely primarily on charter flights for deportation, there is a marked increase in using commercial airlines, prompting human rights groups to call for increased vigilance and accountability.

The Trump administration has deployed agents across airports due to ongoing claims of thousands being detained, with tactics straying from conventional methods. Campaigners argue the need for tracking these transfers has never been more crucial, as federal logistics become less visible.

What happened in this case?

In January, the father sought asylum from Ecuador but was detained alongside his son. They were eventually released but faced a denied asylum request. Legal appeals are currently in progress.

The video, initially obtained by a local activist, showcases a loophole in monitoring practices. It questions how these transports are conducted in plain sight yet remain opaque.

About ICE Air

ICE Air Operations typically manages deportations through chartered flights but has started to integrate commercial flights for discreet transfers of detained individuals. Data from Human Rights First shows an upward trend in both deportation and domestic transfer flights.

Moreover, groups like Human Rights First emphasize the complicating factors involved in tracking these transports, highlighting that airline agencies do not disclose passenger details in advance, which can obscure public awareness of immigration practices.