A commercial airline is pulling out of deportation operations tied to President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement. Avelo Airlines said it will cease flying deportation charters for the Department of Homeland Security, bringing to an end its work transporting detained immigrants for Immigration and Customs Enforcement after less than a year. Since publicizing the arrangement in April, the low-fare carrier has faced protests, boycotts, and criticism from travelers, flight attendant unions, local politicians, and immigration activists. The Houston-based airline said it will refocus on commercial air service and close its base at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona on Jan. 27. Mesa has served as a strategic hub for ICE Air Operations. “The ICE transports provided short-term benefits but ultimately did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue to overcome its operational complexity and costs,” spokeswoman Courtney Goff said in an email to The Washington Post. Goff said CSI Aviation, the government contractor overseeing the flights, will determine when the deportation operations formally end. Avelo began transporting detained immigrants from Mesa on May 12. At the time, chief executive officer Andrew Levy said the company had entered the agreement for financial reasons. Public records show ICE awarded CSI Aviation a contract in March that is now valued at more than $560 million.
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