NEW HAVEN – Members of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition have started an online petition calling for a boycott of Avelo Airlines until it stops providing flights for immigrants deported by ICE.
Tweed New Haven Airport is the Eastern hub for the Texas-based airline.
The petition, which was posted by the immigrants group is on Change.org, has drawn 3,661 signatures as of April 8 at 11 a.m.
“We demand that AVELO AIR halt plans to carry out deportation flights in cooperation with the Trump Administration,” the petition reads. “We pledge to boycott the airline until they stop plans to profit off ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) flights that are tearing families and communities apart and removing some legal residents, such as Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, with no recourse for returning to their families.
“Avelo Air confirms that they have signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration Control and Enforcement agency (ICE) to carry out deportation flights from Mesa, Arizona and are currently recruiting staff.
“A leaked internal memo states that the deportation flights will make up for operating losses at Tweed Airport, thereby funding New Haven’s airport through cruel deportation practices. New Haven is Avelo’s largest hub, with more flights in and out of (Tweed New Haven) HVN than any other airport.”
The New Haven Immigrants Coalition is also calling for the state to revoke Avelo’s two-year fuel tax moratorium to expand its operations at Bradley and Tweed airports. On June 30, six weeks after Avelo starts ICE flights, the free pass on Avelo’s fuel tax bill in Connecticut expires.”
The New Haven Independent reports that Avelo CEO Andrew Levy confirmed the budget airlines’ decision to provide the so-called “ICE flights.”
“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic,” Levy told The Independent. “After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 Crewmembers employed for years to come.”
On its website, Avelo advertises for flight attendant positions for Mesa, Arizona, and New Haven. The ad mentions “this opportunity is for a charter program for the Department of Homeland Security. Flights will be both domestic and international trips to support DHS’s (Department of Homeland Security’s) deportation efforts.”
Some of the job responsibilities include:
- Ensure the safety, security, welfare, and comfort of all customers and other crewmembers
- Respond safely and effectively to a broad range of in-flight emergencies
- Contribute to the smooth and efficient operations of all aircraft and flight schedules
- Complete incident/safety reporting requirements and submit timely documentation
The ad also mentions job candidates must be able to work a rotating schedule with variable hours of up to 16-hour duty days, including nighttime or overnight hours, weekends, holidays, and multiple days away from home.
“We reject the Trump Administration’s inhumane deportation practices, reject cooperation from the State of Connecticut in support of Avelo as long as they are complicit in these practices, and pledge to boycott Avelo as long as they are profiting from ICE flights,” the petition states.
