Court Upholds Deportation of Undocumented Immigrants in Significant Ruling
In a pivotal decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) right to use King County International Airport in Seattle for deportation flights.
The ruling reverses a 2019 local executive order that sought to block federal immigration operations at the airport, a move seen as opposing then-President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The court found that King County had violated a long-standing agreement, originating from a World War II-era contract, that permits federal use of the public airport.
The order was deemed unlawful for targeting federal immigration procedures and placing undue restrictions on ICE operations.
The 2019 directive had forced ICE to reroute deportation flights to Yakima, Washington, significantly increasing travel time and operational costs from its Northwest detention facility.
The added distance also heightened security concerns, prompting the federal government to file a lawsuit against King County in 2020.
Judge Daniel A. Bress, in his November 30 ruling, stated that the county’s actions unfairly restricted federal immigration enforcement.
He emphasized that the federal government was not requiring local officials to enforce immigration laws but merely sought the removal of discriminatory practices against ICE operations.
The court’s decision mandates transparency in deportation procedures, with King County now providing public records of deportation flights and offering video feed access in designated areas.
This ruling is seen as a significant victory for federal immigration authorities, ensuring the continuation of chartered deportation flights while upholding agreements between local and federal governments.
