Pleas to Halt ICE Flights at Portsmouth International Airport Heard by Pease Development Authority
The Pease Development Authority, which oversees Portsmouth International Airport, heard impassioned pleas at their board meeting on Tuesday to put an end to flights carrying detained immigrants from the airport. The message, delivered by 27 speakers and supported by a petition with over 1700 signatures, called for an immediate halt to ICE deportation or transfer flights from the airport.
The Concerns and Petition
The petition, largely signed by New Hampshire residents, stated that these flights make the Pease Development Authority complicit in cruel practices that violate human and Constitutional rights. It also highlighted the negative impact on the economy, families, and values of the state. The speakers, representing various community activist groups, expressed similar concerns and urged the board to take action against these flights.
The Authority’s Response
In response, the board chair Stephen Duprey acknowledged the concerns and stated that the board is sympathetic. He also mentioned that they would ask the PDA staff and lawyers to explore what steps can be taken. However, he also noted that the FAA has control over which planes can use the airport and the PDA must offer services to any legally certified and registered planes to avoid sanctions.
The Flights and Activism
In recent weeks, local activist groups have been tracking flights in and out of Portsmouth through public websites. They have also organized demonstrations at the airport, where they have witnessed shackled prisoners being loaded onto planes. These flights are operated by Eastern Air Express, Avelo, and GlobalX, mostly heading to Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. According to the ICE Flight Monitor, a project started by Tom Cartwright from Witness at the Border and now being run by Human Rights First, 13 ICE flights have left the Portsmouth airport between July 15 and August 16.
The Authority and Its Role
The Pease Development Authority, a state agency, was created after the closure of the Pease Air Force Base in the early 1990s. It oversees various commercial and industrial enterprises, including the Portsmouth International Airport. The board, headed by Duprey, also includes prominent members of the Republican Party and the NH Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College. The Authority’s role in these flights has sparked controversy, with some calling for them to take a stand against ICE’s practices.
Calls for Action
Speakers at the board meeting urged the PDA to take action and not be passive bystanders. They also highlighted the potential for these flights to escalate into a larger issue and called for the board to consider the country’s fundamental principles of due process and human rights. The board was also reminded of the city’s history as the “City of the Open Door,” pushing back against the Ku Klux Klan’s presence in the region.
Final Comments and Future Steps
In his final comments, Duprey pledged to look into the suggestions and ideas presented by the speakers and report back on what steps the