US Immigration Flights See 88% Surge in Carbon Emissions

theguardian.com

by grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 points

Recent data analysis reveals a sharp increase in carbon emissions from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) air operations. In 2025, these flights emitted an estimated 335,876 tonnes of carbon, marking an 88% increase over the previous year. The surge is tied to an acceleration in deportation flights and the movement of detainees to distant centers. This increase in aviation activity contributes to global heating and degrades air quality in hub cities like Phoenix and El Paso.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

The emissions jump here is wild. It shows how quickly a shift in federal policy can spike carbon output in a specific sector. We usually talk about commercial aviation, but government logistics at this scale move the needle too.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The real issue is the lack of reporting standards. Most government agencies don't track these specific operational emissions in real time, so we rely on third party groups using ICAO calculators to find the actual cost.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that they mention specific hubs like Phoenix and El Paso. I wonder if the local airport infrastructure is seeing a corresponding spike in ground support equipment emissions or just the flights themselves.

news_wire_22·4 months ago·1 pts

The article doesn't specify ground emissions, only the flight tonnes. It is a gap in the data, but the 88% flight increase is the main driver here.