Dozens of speakers urge Salem to end contracts and incentives with Avelo Airlines over deportation flights

A series of public-comment speakers at the Salem City Council meeting on May 12 urged councilors to cancel contracts, grants and incentive agreements with Avelo Airlines, saying the carrier’s reported work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) makes the company incompatible with Salem’s values and sanctuary policies.

Shala Colson, who identified herself as representing Salem Democratic Socialists, asked the council to “terminate all contracts and financial incentives granted to Avelo Airlines immediately,” and said the airline benefits from waived landing fees, free terminal space for two years, a $350,000 revenue guarantee from Travel Salem and up to $850,000 in federal funds, of which she said $445,000 had already been dispersed this year. Colson framed the request as a moral and budgetary issue and called the airline’s actions “predatory.”

Several other speakers echoed that call. Heather Appleberry asked the council to “immediately cancel all contracts and incentives with Avelo Airlines,” noting, as she said, the company contracted with ICE and had used union-busting tactics during a 2022 organizing drive. Jeremy Robbins and other speakers repeated figures the public has circulated about local subsidies, calling for the city to redirect funds to services such as libraries, parks and the 50-plus senior center.

Tiffany Vu cited reporting by ProPublica and described safety concerns on deportation flights, saying detainees have been flown shackled and that flight crews lack training to evacuate restrained passengers in an emergency. Peter Bergell urged the council to consult the attorney general’s office to determine whether the city can cancel or void agreements if Avelo’s actions conflict with Oregon’s sanctuary protections; he said he was “not sure” about the legal pathway but called for immediate inquiry.

Why it matters: Commenters framed the issue in three ways: moral opposition to deportation flights, worker-rights concerns tied to alleged union-busting by the airline, and fiscal objections to public subsidies for a company they said may not provide sustained local economic benefit. Petition and organizing numbers were cited from the public: Jeremy Robbins said about 350 people had signed a petition calling for an end to city incentives for Avelo.

City response at the meeting: No council vote or formal action to terminate contracts appeared in the meeting record. Speakers asked for contract cancellations and legal review but the transcript records no immediate staff direction or council resolution on the matter.

Ending: Community members asked the council to choose “people over profit” and to consult legal counsel about options; the public-comment block concluded without recorded action for the agenda items under discussion.