Protests against Avelo Airlines' deportation flights continue at Wilmington Airport
Protests against Avelo Airlines' role in deportations persist nationwide, especially here in Delaware.
Avelo is the only commercial airline that flies from Wilmington Airport near New Castle. It recently added flights to Jacksonville, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina, to 12 other cities. Since 2022, the airline has expanded its operations in Delaware as it gains popularity.
Earlier this year, the airline announced that it agreed to a deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help with deportation flights out of Arizona. This has rubbed a lot of Delawareans the wrong way, and many say they will not use the airline until it stops the service.
Since the announcement, crowds have gathered outside of Wilmington Airport to protest the airline's move. On May 31, a few dozen protesters in Delaware were a part of a nationwide movement at other airports serving Avelo. It wasn't as large of a rally as the first protest in April, but the message has not changed.
"It's very scary what's happening to our country, especially sending innocent people to who knows where at this point in time without due process," said Sheri Swanson, a 77-year-old from Pike Creek, at the protest. "It's not the American way."
This protest comes right after the Department of Homeland Security listed Delaware as a whole, New Castle County, Newark and Camden as "sanctuary jurisdictions" that are "deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities." The executive order threatens any kind of federal funding or grants for any places on the list.
The list was made at the direction of an executive order from President Donald Trump. Protesters outside of the airport remain committed to boycotting Avelo and Trump's immigration policies.
"(It's a) very Delaware-specific thing, or we could hopefully have an economic impact on them and make them feel like it's not such a great deal for them," said Debbie Silverman, a 63-year-old from Wilmington, at the airport. "But now I'm absolutely not planning on flying them."
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware protest joins others nationwide against Avelo's ICE flights
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