ICE Air Deportation Flights Surged in June
Military planes and interior enforcement drive sharp increase across continents (REPORT)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a record-breaking 1,187 flights in June 2025, the highest total since tracking began in January 2020, according to a new report by ICE Air tracker Thomas Cartwright. The month also marked an all-time high in deportation flights, with 209 removals logged—surpassing the previous peak during the Haitian mass deportation in September 2021.
The sharp uptick reflects a coordinated increase in domestic transfers, international removals, and military-led deportations, all of which underscore the Trump administration’s growing reliance on interior enforcement and international agreements to manage migration pressures.
Removal Flights Reach New Heights
Of the total 1,187 flights in June, 209 were removal flights—up 10% from May and 54% higher than the prior six-month average. This rise included a notable surge in deportations to the Northern Triangle region: Guatemala (51 flights), Honduras (43), and El Salvador (22) accounted for 64% of all June deportations. Mexico, traditionally a key destination, saw a sharp drop to 17 flights from 30 in May.
June’s removals also expanded geographically, with 40 unique countries accepting deportees—ranging from Argentina to Mauritania. Deportations to Africa represented 6% of the total, though many were conducted using small jets with limited capacity.
Military Deportations Surge at Month’s End
Military aircraft were used for 10 deportations in June, seven of which took place on June 29 alone. Flights departed from locations such as Harlingen, Texas, and Alexandria, Louisiana, returning individuals to nations including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Peru, and Haiti. These military flights—part of a broader pattern now totaling 50 for the year—suggest a strategic effort to normalize military involvement in immigration enforcement.
The report notes that combined military deportation routes, including multi-country stops, were used to increase logistical efficiency, though the exact purpose of the June 29 surge remains unclear. “It could have been for budget reasons, or just to show it can be done,” the report observes.
Domestic ‘Shuffle’ Flights Reach Record Levels
ICE also conducted 697 domestic “shuffle” flights—used to move detainees between U.S. detention centers—an increase of 17% over May and double the June 2024 total. The increase corresponds with a rise in detention numbers, which climbed from 39,152 in late December 2024 to 56,397 in mid-June.
These movements appear driven by a need to reposition individuals for removal from border staging areas, rather than from initial points of apprehension. This logistical intensification reflects ICE’s effort to maintain a high pace of deportations despite a drop in border encounters.
Interior Enforcement Outpaces Border Apprehensions
The data further reveals a significant gap between border encounters and deportations for several nationalities, indicating a marked rise in interior enforcement. For instance, Guatemala saw 972 encounters in May but 4,224 deportations in June—a 4.4x multiple. Similar trends were noted for Honduras (6.8x) and El Salvador (8.4x).
Even countries that had previously resisted ICE Air returns—such as Colombia and Venezuela—have resumed deportation cooperation. Colombia accepted two ICE-operated returns in June, while Venezuela took eight flights, primarily using large aircraft.
Shifting Landscape in Mexico and Central America
Mexico’s role as both a return destination and a transit partner remains in flux. While ICE Air deportations to Mexico declined in June, Mexico continued to accept returns from third countries and maintained land deportations of non-Mexican nationals. Notably, federal shelters are being relocated deeper into Mexico, aligning with U.S. goals to move deportees away from the border.
Elsewhere, countries like Nicaragua (five flights), Peru (five), and even Argentina and Chile (two each) increased their cooperation. June marked the first recorded deportation to Argentina by ICE Air.