U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can continue to use the Seattle airport for charter deportation flights, a federal appeals court has ruled, in a win for President-elect Trump’s administration.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling challenges then-President Trump’s immigration policies, saying King County, Washington, violated a contract by banning deportations at King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field. It rejected a 2019 local executive order that attempted to do so.
The court ruled that the order was unlawful because it discriminated against ICE and targeted federal government operations. In 2019, President Trump used Boeing Fields to deport illegal immigrants from the United States, but local counties tried to block his removal efforts.
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This Feb. 23, 2018 file photo shows Port of Seattle cranes in the background and planes parked at the Boeing facility at Boeing Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
In response to this order, ICE began using the airport in Yakima, Washington, a considerable drive from ICE’s Northwest Detention Center, for deportation flights.
“The move increased operating costs by increasing the distance from the ICE detention facility to the airport. It also increased security concerns,” the ruling said.
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In response, a legal battle with King County began. The United States sued the county in 2020, accusing it of discriminating against ICE in violation of the terms of a World War II-era contract guaranteeing federal airport rights.
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In a ruling Friday, Nov. 30, Ninth Circuit Judge Daniel A. Brace upheld the court’s decision. “This is not a situation where King County employees are being conscripted to enforce federal immigration law on behalf of the federal government,” he said in a ruling obtained by FOX News Digital.
“Instead, the United States is asking King County, in its capacity as the owner of a public airport facility, to lift discriminatory prohibitions on the ability of private parties to do business with the federal government in support of federal immigration efforts.” the judgment stated. state.
Migrants board a state-sponsored bus bound for New York outside the nonprofit Mission: Border Hope in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Monday, March 11, 2024. (Christopher Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The new order also calls for transparency regarding deportation flights.
The airport now offers a conference room where the public can watch deportation flights via video feed, and the county posts records of deportation flights from the airport on its website.
President-elect Donald Trump (left) and newly appointed Tom Homan (right) (Getty)
This ruling is a victory for the incoming Trump administration. The president-elect has vowed to begin deportation efforts on his first day in office.
His promise was confirmed by Tom Homan, whom he selected as “Border Emperor.”
“If you don’t want to work with us, get out of the way, and we’re going to do it,” Homan said recently.
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Following Trump’s election, Blue City officials have voiced opposition to efforts to deport him. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said he is willing to go to jail for opposing President Trump’s plan.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey delivers her inaugural address in the state Capitol’s House of Representatives shortly after taking the oath of office during Inauguration Day in Boston, January 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
The governors of Illinois, Arizona and Massachusetts also said they would not cooperate with the administration’s operations.
In Illinois, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker pledged to maintain sanctuary status, boldly declaring, “If you’re coming for my people, you’re coming through me.”
Arizona’s Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, said her state would not cooperate with what she called a “misguided” plan.
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“I can say unequivocally that as governor, I will not condone efforts that harm our communities, threaten our communities, and are part of a misguided policy that terrorizes our communities. Arizona State will not participate in them,” Hobbs said. .
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has insisted that the Massachusetts State Police will “absolutely not cooperate” with the Trump administration’s planned deportations.
