Protesters have called for an end to the use of Dallas Love Field in immigration enforcement flights, but officials say that federal agencies, not the airport, control whether such flights occur.
“This is our city property,” lead organizer John Putnam said during a protest near the airport’s entrance. “We don’t think that ICE should be incarcerating and deporting our neighbors here.”
Putnam said the protesters aimed to also draw attention to the amount of ICE activity in Dallas, which has been described by multiple sources as having one of the country’s highest arrest rates.
“More people need to care,” protester Sharon Rodine said. “This is the future for our kids and grandkids, and the kind of country we want to live in. We’re on a slippery slope right now.”
Rodine and Putnam were two of about 40 activists at an Aug. 1 protest organized by eight partner groups, El Movimiento DFW, Democratic Socialists of America – North Texas, Clergy League for Emergency Action Response DFW, Revolutionary Front DFW, Party for Socialism and Liberation Dallas/Ft. Worth, YALL DFW, Indivisible Dallas, and Sunrise Movement Dallas.
Members of the groups also document alleged ICE flights on the Instagram account @noloveforiceair.
In addition to ending ICE activity at Love Field, the protesters demanded that Plano-based Atlantic Aviation stop allegedly servicing ICE-related flights, and that Southwest Airlines issue a statement in support of Lorenzo Thompson, a flight attendant detained by ICE.
Some cars passing by the group of protesters honked in solidarity, while other drivers yelled at the protesters, who held signs urging onlookers to “stop hate end ICE” and “honk to stop Trump,” and chanted “the people, united, will never be divided.”
Dallas officials said that a Love Field fixed-based operator, a term used to describe a business that has the right to provide aviation services at the airport, had informed Love Field’s operations team that immigration flights would be operated through its facility.
But officials said that the airport does not have authority over whether these flights occur, adding that immigration enforcement activities take place at major airports around the country.
“Like these other airports, Dallas Love Field does not manage or oversee federal immigration enforcement operations, nor does the airport have authority over federal decisions regarding the movement of individuals in federal custody,” the city of Dallas department of aviation said in a statement.
The department encouraged those concerned about immigration enforcement activities to contact the appropriate federal agencies.
“The airport remains committed to operating in a safe and lawful manner while serving the region’s transportation needs,” the department wrote. “We understand that immigration-related issues can be deeply personal and concerning for many members of the Dallas community.”
Atlantic Aviation, which is a fixed-based operator at airports around the country, said in a statement that it does not have the ability to deny service to certain aviation customers based on the passengers they transport.
“As an airport tenant, we are required to provide access and services on a nondiscriminatory basis to all aircraft operators using the airports where we operate,” Atlantic Aviation said. “We do not determine or influence the mission, passengers, or purpose of flights operated by our customers.”
Southwest Airlines did not respond to a request for comment.
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