The American Civil Liberties Union has launched a lawsuit looking for details about the nation’s airline used for deportation flights — info it says will likely be key for pricing collectively a “highway map” for a way the incoming Trump administration will perform promised mass deportations.
The general public information lawsuit in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks particulars about ICE Air, which was used to take away some 140,000 folks final 12 months.
A press release from the group expresses “issues that ICE’s infrastructure, together with its air operations community, might be expanded to help the Trump administration in its efforts to deport greater than 11 million folks from the USA.”
“For months, the ACLU has been getting ready for the potential for a mass detention and deportation program, and FOIA litigation has been a central a part of our roadmap,” Kyle Virgien, an legal professional on the ACLU’s Nationwide Jail Mission, stated in an announcement.
“A second Trump administration underscores the urgency of our litigation.”
On the marketing campaign path, Trump stated he would perform the most important mass deportation in American historical past, focusing on the estimated 12 million folks illegally dwelling in U.S.
Whereas previous efforts have focused newer arrivals, Trump has stated he would go after those that have been dwelling and dealing within the U.S. for years.
Trump signaled Monday that he would declare an immigration national emergency and use navy belongings to hold out mass deportations, writing “TRUE!!!” in response to the declare on his social media website.
“President Trump will marshal each federal and state energy essential to institute the most important deportation operation of unlawful criminals, drug sellers, and human traffickers in American historical past,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in an announcement.