Revealed: huge climate cost of harmful emissions from US immigration flights
US immigration enforcement flights have significantly increased carbon emissions, contributing to the climate crisis. An analysis revealed that these flights emitted approximately 335,876 tonnes of carbon in 2025, an 88% increase from the previous year. The rise in deportation flights is linked to the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have led to a surge in detentions and deportations.
- ▪ICE air operations emitted an estimated 335,876 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2025, up 88% from 2024.
- ▪The number of ICE enforcement flights increased by 80% between 2024 and 2025.
- ▪More than 70% of individuals detained by ICE have no criminal convictions.
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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/APUS immigrationRevealed: huge climate cost of harmful emissions from US immigration flightsTrump campaign accelerating climate crisis as officials move migrants to detention jails and deport them from USAlexandra Villarreal with graphics by Aliya UteuovaTue 26 May 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 26 May 2026 05.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleUS immigration enforcement flights are producing hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes of climate-damaging carbon emissions as officials shuttle unprecedented numbers of people to…
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