Every day, the U.S. government operates a shadow airline system that transports thousands of people across the country and beyond its borders—often with little oversight or transparency.
Since 2006, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has operated "ICE Air," a little-known aviation program that serves as the final link in America's deportation machine. The network relies on a complex web of federal agencies, private contractors, commercial airlines, and fixed-base operators scattered across dozens of airports.
This visualization maps the sprawling infrastructure that powers ICE Air—from contract awards to the actual aircraft used in removal operations. As removals have accelerated and expanded in scope under the current administration, this network has only grown more extensive.
Understanding this system matters because these flights represent more than logistics—they're the physical mechanism through which immigration policy becomes reality for thousands of people. By examining this infrastructure, we can better understand the scale, cost, and human impact of America's deportation apparatus.
Data sources: ICE Air Operations data, USA Spending contract records, FAA registration data, and flight tracking records. Visualization by @airplaneian.