Citing publicly available flight-tracking data and information collected by advocacy groups, members of Clergy League for Emergency Action and Response, known as CLEAR DFW, gathered on Tuesday at Cathedral of Hope to present research they say shows an increase in ICE Air operations moving through Dallas Love Field and to raise questions about the role of private aviation in supporting those flights.
CLEAR DFW has spent the past several years advocating on issues related to immigration, housing, and criminal justice. The organization previously raised concerns about a proposed immigration detention facility in Hutchins and has held vigils outside the Dallas field office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since May 2025. The latest focus of the group’s advocacy involves the alleged transportation of ICE detainees through Dallas Love Field.
The press conference highlighted research conducted by organizations including CLEAR DFW, El Movimiento DFW, Democratic Socialists of America North Texas, DFW Young Active Labor Leaders, Indivisible Dallas, and Sunrise Movement Dallas.
According to organizers, Dallas has become a significant hub for ICE Air activity. The groups reported the number of ICE-related flights operating through Dallas increased from 15 in 2024 to 159 in 2025 and is on pace to reach approximately 293 flights in 2026. The organizers say that many of those flights operate through Atlantic Aviation, a fixed-base operator at Love Field that provides services for private, charter, and government aircraft.
CLEAR DFW and its partner organizations have focused particular attention on supporting data of individuals transported through the federal immigration system who, they say, do not have criminal convictions. Organizers also cited accounts from detainees and advocates alleging transfers that separate individuals from family members and attorneys and result in transportation to countries where individuals may have limited connections or where asylum claims are at issue.
Through public statements and posts on its social media channels, CLEAR DFW has invited members of the public to attend what organizers describe as a peaceful protest scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and West Mockingbird Lane.
In a public statement, the Dallas Department of Aviation said that Dallas Love Field is a city-owned airport that accommodates a range of aviation activities, including commercial airline service, general aviation, charter operations, military flights, and government-authorized flights.
The department noted that fixed-base operators, including Atlantic Aviation, are private businesses that provide services to authorized aircraft operators in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
The statement further said immigration enforcement activities and the transportation of individuals in federal custody are matters under the jurisdiction of federal agencies and occur at airports across the country.
According to the department, Dallas Love Field does not manage or oversee federal immigration enforcement operations and does not have authority over federal decisions regarding the movement of individuals in federal custody.
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