Avelo Ends Contract with ICE After Pressure from Organizers

The recent announcement by Avelo, a little-known airline, that it will no longer fly deportation flights comes as a major victory for activists. This decision, overshadowed by the news of the Minneapolis protests, marks the end of a $150 million contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – the largest commercial carrier of detained individuals.

The Campaign Against Avelo

The campaign against Avelo was not just a simple boycott, but a mix of local and national organizing, direct action, and political pressure. It targeted the airline, a contractor for ICE, due to its public-facing brand, financial fragility, and political dependencies. This strategy proved to be more than a symbolic protest – it was a way to leverage change and pressure other companies involved in ICE’s deportation operations.

Shedding Light on Hidden Support

The campaign began when residents of Connecticut discovered that Avelo, a local airline, had signed a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to fly deportation flights. This sparked outrage as the airline had previously branded itself as a “hometown” carrier and received public subsidies. Organizers saw this as a way to remove one of ICE’s “pillars of support” – businesses that collaborate with the agency and enable its actions.

Targeting Vulnerabilities

Deportation flights often go unnoticed as they are subcontracted, routed through regional airports, and handled by private charter firms. Avelo, however, proved to be a vulnerable target with a recognizable brand and a dependence on ticket sales. This made the airline susceptible to public pressure, despite its hope that deportation flights would bring stability and support their core passenger service.

National Support and Local Demands

The campaign gained momentum as more organizations joined the cause and local demands were tailored to each location’s specific intersection with Avelo. Groups like Jobs with Justice, the SEIU, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) mobilized their members, leading to nationwide protests and boycotts. In addition to this, pressure was put on elected officials, state policies, and investment firms working with Avelo.

Combining Centralization and Decentralization

The campaign proved to be a combination of centralization and decentralization, with various groups working together and sharing resources to pressure the target. This “mosquito strategy” of many small bites proved to be successful, forcing Avelo to end its West Coast flights and eventually leave the deportation business altogether.

A Fragile System

This victory serves as a reminder that ICE’s power is not invulnerable and can be weakened by targeting its collaborators. The networks formed during this campaign are now turning their attention to other contractors and policies that support ICE’s operations. As Adam Shah of Jobs with Justice states, now is the time for all corporations to choose between democracy and authoritarianism, community and violence.