Washington (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) February 07, 2026 – The Trump administration has utilised private jets to deport Palestinians detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) directly to the West Bank. These operations, reported by multiple outlets, involved at least three flights since January 2025, carrying a total of 42 individuals. The moves align with expanded deportation policies targeting non-citizens with prior immigration violations.
The deportations began following executive orders signed by President Donald Trump upon his inauguration in January 2025, prioritising removals of undocumented migrants and those with criminal records. ICE confirmed the use of chartered aircraft for efficiency, citing security concerns with commercial flights. Destinations included Ramallah and Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as verified by flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange and reported by The New York Times.
Palestinians deported included long-term US residents picked up during workplace raids in California and Texas. One flight on January 28 carried 15 men from Los Angeles, landing at Amman Queen Alia International Airport before ground transport to the Allenby Bridge crossing.
Details of Deportation Flights and Logistics
ICE contracted private firms including Definitive Healthcare and World Atlantic Airlines for the charters. A Boeing 737 departed Miami International Airport on February 2 with 18 detainees, refuelling in Shannon, Ireland, before proceeding to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. From there, buses transported the group to the West Bank, according to Reuters flight logs and Palestinian Authority records.
Costs exceeded $2.5 million for the three operations, funded through ICE's $8.5 billion enforcement budget for fiscal year 2026, as detailed in a Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by The Washington Post. Each detainee underwent medical screenings and legal reviews prior to boarding, with no reported incidents during transit.
The West Bank, lacking a dedicated international airport, required coordination with Israeli authorities for border crossings. Palestinian officials at the Qalandiya checkpoint logged arrivals, noting most deportees held expired Jordanian travel documents.
Background on Detained Individuals
Those deported had resided in the US for periods ranging from five to 22 years, primarily as construction workers and delivery drivers. ICE arrests stemmed from a nationwide sweep launched in November 2025, targeting 1,200 Palestinians flagged in a State Department database for "national security concerns," later clarified as overstayed visas.
A 34-year-old from Hebron, detained in Chicago, had lived in the US since 2010 on a work visa that lapsed in 2022. He was removed on the first flight after a final immigration hearing denied his asylum claim based on West Bank violence. Families reported separations, with US-born children left behind; ICE policy prohibits deporting minors without guardians.
No deportees faced terrorism charges, per ICE statements to Associated Press. Prior convictions included minor offences like driving without a licence, not warranting mandatory removal under prior administrations.
Policy Context and Executive Actions
President Trump's January 20, 2025, executive order
"Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists' Entry"
expanded ICE authority to detain and remove individuals from designated high-risk regions, including the Palestinian territories. The order invoked section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, halting entries from Gaza and parts of the West Bank temporarily.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the private jet initiative at a February 1 press conference, stating it "expedites removals while ensuring safety." The program bypasses commercial carriers after two airlines refused ICE contracts citing reputational risks.
This marks a shift from Biden-era policies, which deported 142 Palestinians via group charters to Jordan in 2024. Trump's approach emphasises direct returns to origin points, even disputed territories.
Reactions from Advocacy Groups and Lawmakers
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit on February 4 in California district court, alleging due process violations and unsafe returns to conflict zones.
"Deporting to an occupied territory without viable residency endangers lives,"
ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said in court filings.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Noem demanding flight manifests and cost breakdowns, calling the jets "an extravagant misuse of taxpayer funds." Over 100 House Democrats co-signed.
Palestinian-American organisations, including American Muslims for Palestine, held a vigil outside ICE headquarters in Washington on February 5, attended by 300 people. Spokesperson Huwaida Arraf stated,
"These are families torn apart by arbitrary enforcement."
Republican supporters praised the measures. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan tweeted, "Finally, enforcing our laws – no more sanctuary for illegals." The post received 45,000 likes within 24 hours.
International and Regional Responses
Israel's Ministry of Interior cooperated fully, issuing temporary entry permits for deportees at Ben Gurion. A spokesperson confirmed,
"Standard procedure for returns from third countries."
Jordan, handling initial landings, protested the volume but accepted flights under bilateral agreements.
The Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry issued a statement via WAFA news agency:
"We welcome our citizens home but condemn US actions forcing returns amid economic hardship."
Unemployment in the West Bank stands at 28%, per World Bank data.
UNHCR expressed concerns in Geneva, noting 12 deportees registered as refugees in the US.
"Forced returns to areas without protection violate non-refoulement principles,"
a spokesperson told Al Jazeera.
Operational Scale and Future Plans
ICE reports 278 Palestinians in custody as of February 6, with plans for four additional charters by March. A new contract with iAero Group, valued at $15 million, covers 10 flights through June 2026.
The initiative forms part of a broader 500,000-deportation goal for 2026, per White House projections. Similar operations target Venezuelans to Guyana and Haitians to the Dominican Republic.
Detention facilities in Texas and Arizona expanded capacity by 20% since January, housing deportees in El Paso Processing Center under ICE oversight.
Advocates monitor health impacts; one deportee required hospitalisation in Ramallah for dehydration post-flight, as reported by Ma'an News Agency.
Legal challenges continue, with a temporary injunction hearing set for February 10 in San Francisco federal court.
The use of private jets drew scrutiny from aviation watchdogs. FlightAware data showed the Miami charter deviated from standard routes to avoid no-fly zones over the eastern Mediterranean.