A new data analysis reveals that US immigration enforcement flights are producing hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes of climate-damaging carbon emissions as officials shuttle unprecedented numbers of people to detention centers and deport them worldwide. Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign has spurred at least an 80% increase in such flights year over year, accelerating the climate crisis.
Emissions Surge Under Trump
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) air operations pumped an estimated 335,876 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2025, up 88% from the previous year. The first four months of 2026 show the agency on track to contribute even more to global heating, with 139,594 tonnes already emitted. When scaled, this suggests a 25% annual increase over 2025's high total.
These emissions exacerbate the climate crisis, which itself drives irregular migration, while polluting air in communities used as flight hubs like Phoenix, El Paso, Harlingen, and Alexandria.
Human Rights and Environmental Concerns
Savitri Arvey of Human Rights First noted a staggering increase in both the number of flights and destinations. Brett Heinz of the American Friends Service Committee emphasized that the pollution harms every family in the US, creating a vicious cycle where climate change drives more migration.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its practices, stating that restraints on detainees are standard protocol for safety. However, over 70% of the more than 60,000 detainees as of early April have no criminal convictions, raising concerns about due process.
Expanding Flight Network
ICE now conducts flights to 79 countries, compared to 45 under Biden, including African and Asian nations that previously received no deportation flights. Immigrants have been sent to conflict zones like Haiti and Venezuela, and even to countries where they have no connections, such as Uganda and Rwanda.
Domestic transfers surged at least 132%, hauling people to detention facilities far from their homes. The ramped-up schedule represents a departure from past operations when most removals were to nearby destinations by land.
Local and Global Impact
Stanford professor Mark Jacobson warned that airport emissions contribute to local air pollution causing lung issues and premature death, while greenhouse gases spread globally. The findings underscore the environmental cost of aggressive immigration enforcement.
