Appeals court allows deportation flights to continue at Seattle airport

In the United States, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to utilize a Seattle airport, known as Boeing Field, for deportation flights. This decision came after a series of legal battles that began with a local executive order issued in 2019 by King County Executive Dow Constantine. The order aimed to limit ICE's operations due to concerns about potential human rights abuses associated with deportations. It restricted the leasing of airport facilities for deportation flights, compelling ICE to shift operations to a more distant airport in Yakima. This change inconvenienced the agency due to the significantly increased travel time for deportations, which complicated logistical operations for these flights. The situation escalated into a legal dispute when the U.S. government sued King County, arguing that the executive order discriminated against federal operations and violated pre-existing contractual agreements dating back to World War II, which assured the federal government’s rights at the airport. In response to the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan ruled in favor of the federal government, affirming that the local order unlawfully interfered with federal immigration enforcement. Following the ruling, Constantine issued a new executive order confirming the continuation of deportation flights, while ensuring that local resources would not be utilized beyond the legal requirements set forth by federal law. Additionally, this new order introduced measures to enhance transparency regarding deportation flights, including the establishment of a public observation arrangement and a log of flight activities posted online by the county. Despite expressing disagreement with the court's conclusion, King County stated it would comply with the 9th Circuit's ruling. The appeals concluded with a unanimous decision by a panel of judges, which emphasized that local governments cannot assert control over federal immigration operations. Consequently, deportation flights resumed by May 2023, marking the resolution of a contentious situation with significant implications for immigration enforcement practices in the region. The court's ruling essentially reinstated federal authority over immigration transportation logistics at Boeing Field.