Moulton Joins Democratic Colleagues Demanding Investigation into ICE “Ghost Flights”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) joined a group of more than 30 House Democrats, led by Reps. Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), and Delia Ramirez (IL-03), in sending a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demanding an investigation into the agency's role in allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights to evade public scrutiny through the use of the Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) program.

The lawmakers are calling on the FAA to stop assisting ICE in concealing so-called "ghost flights" and to provide Congress with information about the safety, oversight, and treatment of individuals aboard deportation flights operated by private contractors. The letter raises concerns about reports of inhumane conditions during deportation flights, including prolonged restraints, lack of medical care, and limited transparency for families, attorneys, and congressional offices attempting to track detained individuals.

According to reporting cited by the lawmakers, ICE deportation flights have sharply increased in recent months, with the administration increasingly relying on private charter operators whose flights are shielded from public tracking systems.

In their letter, the members requested detailed information from the FAA regarding its use of the LADD program for ICE-related flights, oversight of passenger safety conditions, and communications between the FAA and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the concealment of deportation operations.

The letter can be found here.

###