Court Rules US Can Deport Illegals Despite Objections In Win For Incoming Trump Admin
A federal appeals court has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may continue using Seattle’s Boeing Field airport for chartered deportation flights, a decision welcomed by the incoming Trump administration.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 2019 local executive order that sought to counter President Trump’s immigration policies. The court found that King County, Washington, had violated federal law by restricting ICE’s ability to conduct deportation operations at King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field.
The ruling stated that the county’s actions were discriminatory and impeded federal processes. In 2019, Boeing Field had been used by the Trump administration for deportation flights, but local officials attempted to block ICE’s operations. As a result, ICE was forced to use an airport in Yakima, Washington, significantly increasing logistical and security challenges due to the distance from its Northwest Detention Center.
“The relocation increased operational costs due to the greater distance from ICE detention facilities to the airport. It also led to increased security concerns,” the court noted in its decision.
The federal government subsequently filed a lawsuit in 2020, arguing that King County’s actions violated a World War II-era agreement granting federal access to the airport. On November 30, 9th Circuit Judge Daniel A. Bress upheld the government’s position.
“This is not a case where King County officials are being forced to enforce federal immigration laws on behalf of the federal government,” Judge Bress wrote in the 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 a discriminatory prohibition on private parties’ ability to engage in business with the federal government that supports federal immigration efforts,” the judge explained.
In response to the ruling, King County has introduced measures for increased transparency regarding deportation flights. The airport now offers a public conference room with a video feed to observe these operations, and a log of deportation flights is available on the county’s website.
The court’s decision aligns with President-elect Trump’s agenda, as he has pledged to resume deportations immediately upon taking office. This commitment has been reinforced by his selection of Tom Homan as “border czar.”
“If you don’t want to work with us, then get the hell out all the way. We’re going to do it,” Homan stated recently.
Since Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, officials in Democratic-leaning cities and states have voiced strong opposition to his deportation plans. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has even declared his willingness to face imprisonment in resistance.
Governors from states like Arizona, Massachusetts, and Illinois have also signaled their refusal to cooperate with federal deportation efforts, with some pledging active resistance.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker previously stated, “If you come for my people, you come through me.” Similarly, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has denounced the plans as “misguided” and harmful to communities, asserting that her state will not participate.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey echoed this sentiment, making it clear that state law enforcement would “absolutely not” assist the Trump administration with its deportation initiatives.