The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has announced that it has been working in conjunction with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out several removal flights to Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.

These flights have included both single adults and family units. In addition to this, ICE has also deported nationals from other countries such as Angola, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela as part of various other routine removal flights that have been conducted throughout the hemisphere and around the world.

Since May 2023, ICE DHS has removed or returned over 300,000 individuals, which includes more than 45,000 family unit members, to their respective countries.

ICE has clarified that individuals who do not have a lawful basis to stay in the United States are ordered to be removed, which is consistent with US law.

ICE also added that all individuals who are removed have been screened for protection concerns.

This policy applies to all noncitizens, regardless of nationality, to ensure that the processing, transfer and removal of single adults, family units and others determined to be removable is orderly and humane.

ICE has stated that noncitizens who are placed into removal proceedings receive their due process from immigration judges in the immigration courts, which the Justice Department’s Executive Office administers for Immigration Review.

However, ICE has pointed out that due to operational security reasons, it will not be confirming or discussing future or pending transportation operations.

ICE’s Air Operations facilitates the transfer and removal of noncitizens, including family units, via commercial airlines and chartered flights, in support of ICE field offices and other DHS initiatives.

In fiscal year 2022, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 72,177 removals to more than 150 countries worldwide.