Advocacy Groups Protest Avelo and ICE’s Deportation Flights in Wilmington
Several local advocacy assemblies including the Immigrants’ Rights Association, the American Voices Society based in Wilmington, and the Wilmington Division of the Social Democrats of U.S.A, populated the main thoroughfare leading to the famous Wrightsville Beach. Their collective appeal was for holidaymakers to ‘travel with conscience.’ One of the chief coordinators of the demonstration indicated that the site was selected to maximize their outreach, informing as many tourists about Avelo’s recent partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate deportation flights.
They raised the issue of regional funding being used for promoting Avelo’s services in Wilmington and various other places, further incentivizing travelers to choose Avelo for their travel plans. The activists wish to highlight the moral implications of choosing a low-cost flight potentially at a great cost to human rights.
Avelo Airlines, a cost-effective service provider operating in 23 American states, commenced its operation in Wilmington in April. Shortly after the Wilmington base became operational, citizens showed their disapproval through various demonstrations throughout the city. Initially, the protestors expressed their disagreement with Avelo’s policies directly at the airport.
Soon, however, the protests took on a more concerted effort. The first large-scale demonstration, part of a nationwide campaign, aimed to exert financial pressure on Avelo following their controversial deal. A national campaign emerged, coordinating nationwide protests in cities where Avelo operates.
As explained by a protester present at the demonstration: ‘Avelo Airlines operates commercially, and they hold the unique position of being the sole commercial airline to have a contract with ICE. They are responsible for facilitating deportation flights from Arizona to El Salvador. Our message to people is simple – Don’t fly Avelo.’ The objective of the movement is to inform and encourage prospective travelers to opt for another airline.
Despite the various views on immigration, society agrees on the difficulty of changing these perspectives. However, both local and national advocates hope to at least influence travelers’ choice of airline.
The protest efforts seem to be making some headway, as noted by an activist at the demonstration: ‘It’s having an impact. Recently, Avelo suspended a few flights and scaled back operations in certain routes – not here in Wilmington but in other regions.’ The wish is for these local endeavors to instigate larger changes on a broader scale.
On the other hand, Avelo defends its decision to collaborate with ICE, citing financial stability as the primary reason. Furthermore, a member of a steering committee for an advocacy group placed a public record request with the New Hanover County Airport Authority.
The Deputy Airport Director disclosed to him after a couple of months of dialogue that neither had the Airport Authority allotted any funds to Avelo nor had they approved any budget modifications for the airline. The Avelo lease agreement, which the Deputy Director mentioned as being standard across all airlines operating at ILM, was provided as a part of their conversation.
Moreover, in response to continuous query engagements, he accepted that local marketing funds had financed the promotion for Avelo flights and ILM Airport ever since the airline’s services began from there.
Since its initiation, Avelo has played a significant part in the local economy. A protestor, however, showed skepticism about this, stating, ‘It’s difficult to comprehend when we know that total tourist expenditure in New Hanover County amounted to $1.1 billion in 2023. The annual GDP for the entire county did not exceed $20 billion as per last reported fiscal year, so it seems highly unlikely that Avelo’s contribution to economic activity merits such high praise.
He continued: ‘But the real ethical conundrum we’re faced with is whether we are going to ignore Avelo’s involvement in potentially illegal and inhuman deportation flights, merely because we stand to gain from their other activities. To reconsider: what is the value we assign to our collective morality if we let these deportation flights persist?’