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Residents urge Eugene to repudiate Avelo Airlines over deportation flights; city manager cites federal airport rules
Summary
Multiple speakers called on the city to end its relationship with Avelo Airlines because of the airline’s role in deportation flights; city staff said the Eugene Airport is a federally certified public airport and cannot ban certified carriers under FAA/DOT rules.
EUGENE, Ore. — At least a dozen residents and advocacy groups used public comment at the June 23 council meeting to urge the city to take steps against Avelo Airlines over its role in transporting people detained by federal immigration authorities.
What speakers asked - Speakers including Stan Taylor (Indivisible Eugene Springfield), Chris Topaz, Mark Fremeth and others called on the city to end contracts or otherwise bar Avelo from operating at Eugene Airport because of the airline’s participation in deportation flights in other cities. - Callers asked the council to pass a resolution prohibiting city contracts with companies engaged in forced deportations or to use procurement/compliance clauses to terminate agreements if the airline engages in deportation activity from Eugene.
City staff response The city manager and city staff explained that Eugene Airport is a federally funded public airport subject to Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration regulations, and that the airport cannot unilaterally ban certified air carriers from operating at the facility. The city manager said she had not received reports of deportation flights operating out of Eugene as of the meeting.
Why it matters Speakers argued the city’s engagements with carriers used by ICE undermined the city’s sanctuary commitments and asked the council to use the city’s contractual compliance and nondiscrimination language to press Avelo to stop participating in deportation flights. City staff cautioned that federal certification and airport rules limit local discretion over carrier access.
Next steps Several speakers asked the mayor and council to investigate whether Avelo’s activities violate existing city agreements and to publicly condemn deportation flights. Council members and staff said they would continue to monitor developments and that procurement/compliance sections of contracts include remedies should a contractor materially violate local agreements.
