First Thing: Huge climate cost of emissions from US immigration enforcement flights
Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign has led to a significant increase in immigration enforcement flights, contributing to climate change. Data shows that emissions from these flights have surged by 88% in just one year. The trend is expected to continue, exacerbating the environmental impact of U.S. immigration policies.
- ▪Trump's mass deportation campaign has resulted in an 80% increase in immigration flights year over year.
- ▪ICE's air operations emitted an estimated 335,876 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2025, marking an 88% increase from the previous year.
- ▪The first four months of 2026 indicate that ICE is on track to further increase its carbon emissions from deportation flights.
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A migrant from El Salvador is put on a plane in Phoenix for deportation to his home country. Photograph: Matt York/APView image in fullscreenA migrant from El Salvador is put on a plane in Phoenix for deportation to his home country. Photograph: Matt York/APFirst Thing newsletterUS newsFirst Thing: Huge climate cost of emissions from US immigration enforcement flightsTrump’s mass deportation campaign is accelerating the climate crisis. Plus, US students on why they booed their pro-AI graduation speakersNicola SlawsonTue 26 May 2026 08.26 EDTLast modified on Tue 26 May 2026 08.27 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleGood morning.Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign has spurred at least an 80% increase in immigration flights year over year, accelerating the climate crisis by emitting…
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