(Scypre.com) – The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can continue using King County International Airport in Seattle, commonly known as Boeing Field, for chartered deportation flights. This ruling overturns a 2019 executive order by King County officials aimed at halting deportations from the airport.
Background and Legal Context
The 2019 directive was part of a broader effort by local officials to counter then-President Trump’s stringent immigration policies. The order prohibited the use of Boeing Field for ICE deportation flights, compelling the federal agency to reroute its operations to an airport in Yakima, Washington. This alternative airport is located significantly farther from ICE’s Northwest detention center, creating logistical challenges.
The federal government responded by suing King County in 2020, alleging that the county had violated a World War II-era contract guaranteeing the federal government’s right to use the airport. The lawsuit also accused the county of discriminatory practices targeting federal immigration operations.
Court Ruling
In its decision, issued on November 30, Judge Daniel A. Bress of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that King County’s actions unlawfully discriminated against ICE. “This is not a situation in which King County officials are being conscripted into carrying out federal immigration laws on the federal government’s behalf,” Judge Bress stated in the ruling, which was 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 a discriminatory prohibition on private parties’ ability to engage in business with the federal government that supports federal immigration efforts.”
The court also emphasized the financial and security burdens imposed by the relocation to Yakima. According to the ruling, the increased distance from detention facilities to the alternative airport raised operational costs and heightened safety concerns for ICE.
Transparency Measures Implemented
Following the ruling, King County introduced measures aimed at increasing public oversight of deportation operations. These include a conference room where members of the public can view deportation flights via a video feed and an online log documenting such flights.
Political Implications
The ruling represents a significant victory for President-elect Trump, who has vowed to reinstate and expand immigration enforcement policies on his first day in office. Trump has selected Tom Homan, a staunch advocate of strict border controls, as his “border czar.” Homan has made his position clear, stating, “If you don’t want to work with us, then get the hell out all the way. We’re going to do it.”
However, Trump’s renewed focus on deportations has met fierce resistance from local and state leaders, particularly in Democratic strongholds. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has pledged to defy federal immigration enforcement efforts, stating he is willing to face jail time in opposition to Trump’s policies. Similarly, governors in Illinois, Arizona, and Massachusetts have voiced their refusal to cooperate with the incoming administration.
State Responses
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker reaffirmed his state’s sanctuary status, declaring, “If you come for my people, you come through me.”
- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs labeled the deportation plans “misguided,” stating, “As governor, I will not tolerate efforts that harm our communities, that threaten our communities, that terrorize our communities.”
- Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey unequivocally rejected cooperation with the administration, asserting that state police would “absolutely not” assist in deportation operations.