Healey demands ICE stop using Hanscom for flights

"Gov. Maura Healey demanded that ICE stop using Hanscom Field in Bedford for immigration enforcement flights in a recent letter to federal authorities. The move comes as the Trump administration continues to escalate mass deportation efforts using contracted planes throughout the country. In November, ICE conducted the most flights of any month since at least January 2020, according to recent data released by a prominent human rights group that tracks the flights."

"During a major enforcement operation in Massachusetts in September, 63% of the immigrants arrested by ICE had no criminal charges. Only 10% had any past criminal conviction, and only 2% had a past violent conviction. According to ICE, the September operation resulted in 1,406 "illegal alien offenders" being arrested. More than 600 of these people "had significant criminal convictions or pending criminal charges for crimes committed in the United States or were known foreign fugitives," according to the agency."

At least 114 ICE flights have departed from Hanscom Field in Bedford this year, according to a human rights group that tracks flight data. Gov. Maura Healey demanded that ICE stop using Hanscom Field for immigration enforcement flights and called ICE's deportation tactics "disturbing and anti-American." The Trump administration has escalated mass deportation efforts using contracted planes nationwide, and November saw the most ICE flights since at least January 2020. A major Massachusetts enforcement operation in September arrested 1,406 people; 63% had no criminal charges, 10% had past convictions, and 2% had past violent convictions. ICE said more than 600 arrestees had significant convictions or pending charges.

Read at Boston.com