It looks like US President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration may have hit a bump. Reportedly, Avelo Airlines, a Texas-based budget carrier, said on Wednesday that it will stop operating deportation flights for the US Department of Homeland Security by late January and shut its Arizona base, citing high costs and complexity despite earlier expectations of steady revenue.
“The program provided short-term benefits but ultimately did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue to overcome its operational complexity and costs,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement.
Reportedly, Avelo, which previously said the opportunity was “too valuable not to pursue,” faced backlash from both customers and employees over its decision to operate deportation flights under a contract with the Trump administration.
READ: ‘Hands off our grandma’: ICE detains 73-year-old Harjit Kaur after 33 years in US (
Avelo plans to refocus on its core commercial operations, streamlining its route network and scaling back certain bases as part of a broader restructuring effort. It remains unclear how the company’s financial performance will be impacted in the long term or whether similar government contracts may be pursued in the future.
While the airline’s withdrawal ends its direct involvement in deportation flights, U.S. deportation operations will continue through other carriers and arrangements, though the exact scope and logistics may change over time.
In his second term, President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated anti‑immigration policies, reviving and expanding tactics that were once political rhetoric. The administration has focused on expansive enforcement, mass deportations, and aggressive legal changes aimed at reducing both legal and undocumented immigration.
One executive order from early 2025, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” broadens expedited removals, increases penalties for undocumented immigrants, and penalizes sanctuary jurisdictions, reflecting a push toward swift deportations without traditional judicial proceedings.
Critics argue these policies erode due process and civil rights, while supporters frame them as necessary to secure borders and enforce immigration law. Immigration checks are increasingly paired with heavy federal deployments in sanctuary cities, notably in Minnesota, where Trump’s rhetoric has targeted Somali immigrant communities and other groups.
A fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, has become a flashpoint in this broader crackdown. During a large‑scale immigration enforcement operation involving thousands of federal agents, a 37‑year‑old woman, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed by an ICE officer.
Federal officials claim the officer acted in self‑defense after she allegedly attempted to use her vehicle against agents; local leaders and video evidence contest that narrative, calling the use of force reckless and unnecessary and disputing claims that she posed an active threat.
READ: Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil sues Trump administration for $20 million (
The incident sparked protests, vigils, and sharp criticism from city and state officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who demanded that ICE leave the city, and Minnesota lawmakers who condemned the federal tactics as violent and politically motivated. Investigations by state and federal authorities are ongoing as national debate intensifies over immigration enforcement methods and civil liberties.
Public reactions, corporate pushback, and ongoing investigations reflect a broader debate about the balance between national security, administrative efficiency, and civil liberties. How these tensions resolve in the coming months may shape the trajectory of U.S. immigration enforcement for years to come.