Connecticut’s Attorney General has questioned Avelo Airlines regarding its deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The state is concerned about the safety and treatment of detainees on these flights. Avelo Airlines, which has a major hub in New Haven, Connecticut, recently signed an agreement to dedicate three planes for deportation flights as part of ICE Air. This decision has sparked backlash from Connecticut officials and the public. In response to concerns raised by ProPublica about the treatment of detainees, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong questioned whether Avelo would operate flights with detainees in shackles or without proper evacuation strategies. Avelo CEO Andrew Levy stated that the ICE contract was too valuable to pass up, despite financial challenges. Meanwhile, Connecticut Democrats are pushing to expand the state’s sanctuary law to penalize companies working with federal immigration authorities. The attorney general has requested a copy of Avelo’s ICE Air contract and further details on safety protocols. Avelo’s fuel-tax moratorium in Connecticut is set to expire on June 30, and activists are urging lawmakers not to extend it.
— new from ProPublica
