BOSTON—Governor Maura Healey is sending shockwaves through the aviation industry, demanding that two airlines cease their collaboration with ICE in deportation flights. This bold move comes on the heels of ICE ramping up operations at Hanscom Field in Bedford last year, raising serious concerns about the agency's tactics.

In her letter to top executives at GlobalX Airlines and Eastern Air Express, Healey decried the use of charter flights as a means to execute President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. She argues that this practice facilitates the swift removal of residents from their communities, denying them due process and legal representation. “Flying these residents out of state—often within hours of arrest—is intentionally cruel,” Healey stated, illuminating the urgency of her plea.

GlobalX, branded as the nation’s “fastest growing charter airline,” reported a staggering $160 million in revenue in 2023. Meanwhile, Eastern Air Express, recently rebranded after acquiring Hillwood Airways, has yet to respond to inquiries regarding its role in these controversial flights. The implications of their actions are significant, especially as reports indicate a shocking 143% increase in ICE flights from Hanscom, reaching a total of 114 flights from January to November 2025.

Healey’s demand follows a tragic incident in Minnesota where an ICE officer fatally shot a woman, which she referenced as a grim example of the agency's increasingly chaotic and brutal tactics. She noted that a substantial number of those targeted by ICE in Massachusetts lack any criminal charges, further questioning the ethicality of the deportation process.

As the pressure mounts, Healey's call to action reflects a critical moment in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement in Massachusetts. With Avelo Airlines pulling back from its contract with ICE amid its own economic struggles, the stakes have never been higher for these companies. “On behalf of American taxpayers, I also find it incomprehensible that the Trump Administration is choosing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on private jets to obstruct people’s due process,” Healey concluded, spotlighting the financial implications of these operations as the conversation around deportations continues to heat up.