U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Friday the continuation of its removal operations, including flights deporting single adults and family units to Cuba and Jamaica. These deportations, carried out between August 26 and August 30, were coordinated with other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The removal flights also included nationals from a range of other countries, including Brazil, Cameroon, various Central American nations, Colombia, Ecuador, Liberia, and Mexico.
ICE emphasized its commitment to enforcing immigration laws, stating, “If a noncitizen arrives and has no legal basis to remain in the United States, they are processed and removed quickly, consistent with U.S. law.”
In the year following the end of the Title 42 public health order — from May 12, 2023, to May 12, 2024 — DHS reported that over 742,000 individuals were removed or returned, the majority of whom had crossed the southwest border. This included more than 111,000 family members. ICE noted that the total removals and returns during this period surpassed those in any full fiscal year since 2010.
Since the presidential proclamation to temporarily suspend the entry of certain noncitizens across the southern border, along with a joint interim final rule issued by DHS and the U.S. Department of Justice 12 weeks ago, ICE said DHS has removed and returned more than 92,000 individuals to over 130 countries through more than 300 international repatriation flights.
ICE reiterated its adherence to legal procedures, stating, “The United States ensures that all noncitizens without a legal basis to remain in the United States are properly screened for valid protection claims and withholding of removal in accordance with our laws and U.S. international obligations.” The agency stressed that this applies to all noncitizens, regardless of nationality, ensuring the orderly and humane processing, transfer, and removal of single adults and family units. Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings can present their claims for relief or protection before immigration judges in courts administered by the U.S. Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
For operational security reasons, ICE did not disclose details of future or pending transportation operations.
In fiscal year 2023, ICE reported that its Air Operations facilitated the transfer and removal of noncitizens, including family units, via commercial airlines and chartered flights. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 142,580 removals and 62,545 Title 42 expulsions to more than 170 countries worldwide.
