ICE Deportation Flights Emit 139,594 Tonnes in 4 Months, Putting 2026 on Track to Rise 25%
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 26
ICE Deportation Flights Emit 139,594 Tonnes in 4 Months, Putting 2026 on Track to Rise 25%
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 26
Summary
139,594 tonnes of carbon emissions came from ICE air operations in the first four months of 2026, a pace that would push annual emissions nearly 25% above 2025’s already elevated total.
335,876 tonnes were emitted in 2025—up 88% from 2024—as Trump’s mass deportation drive lifted enforcement flights at least 80% year over year and produced a record 245 removal flights last month.
79 countries received US deportation flights during Trump’s first year back in office, up from 45 in Biden’s final year, while domestic transfers between detention sites or staging hubs jumped at least 132%.
More than 70% of over 60,000 detainees held in early April had no criminal convictions, despite DHS vows to target serious offenders; rights groups also cited due-process abuses and harsh restraint practices on flights.
Phoenix, El Paso, Harlingen and Alexandria are among hub communities facing added local air pollution, while advocates say the emissions deepen climate change that can itself drive more migration.
What is the true cost of deporting individuals with no criminal record via this carbon-intensive flight network?
As deportation flight emissions surge, could simple flight adjustments slash their climate impact overnight?
How does the expansion of ICE air operations affect other federal agencies and the surveillance of citizens?
Record ICE Deportations in 2026: Human Rights, Environmental, and Financial Costs of the Trump Administration’s Mass Removal Surge
Overview
In 2026, ICE deportations surged to record levels following the Trump administration’s aggressive mass deportation agenda launched in early 2025. This led to a dramatic rise in deportation flights, such as at Mesa Gateway, where flights nearly tripled compared to the previous year. The scale and scope of removals expanded, with ICE using harsher tactics and targeting more locations. These actions were driven by policy changes and increased pressure on ICE officials, resulting in widespread human rights concerns, lack of oversight, and significant financial and environmental costs. The report highlights the urgent need for humane, transparent, and sustainable alternatives.