Rochester to Avelo: We Don’t Fly With Deporters

Dozens of demonstrators gathered Thursday at Frederick Douglass–Greater Rochester International Airport to protest Avelo Airlines' decision to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct deportation flights starting in May. Chanting, singing, and holding signs with messages of solidarity, protesters sent a clear message: Rochester stands with its immigrant neighbors.

Immigrant rights advocates protest at Rochester, NY Frederick Douglass International Airport, calling on Avelo Airlines to stop deportation flights. Photo: provided

"Kidnapping our neighbors does not fly with us. We will not fly with you,” said City Council Candidate Kelly Cheatle, addressing a crowd that included local residents, faith leaders, and immigrant rights advocates.

The protest was sparked by the announcement that Avelo Airlines, a Houston-based low-cost carrier, will dedicate three Boeing 737-800s to deportation flights under a long-term charter with ICE. While Avelo claims the move helps secure jobs, Rochester residents and immigrant rights groups see it as a moral failure and a threat to community safety.

The Western New York Coalition, a regional alliance of immigration advocates and legal experts, issued a strong statement condemning the airline and the use of Rochester’s public infrastructure for such operations.

“Frederick Douglass was a champion for racial justice, human dignity, and civil rights,” the coalition wrote. “We insist that any use of our airport, which bears his name, honor his legacy.”

“The reports of the conditions in detention, and the methods of removal—including on commercially-chartered flights—show a consistent abuse of human dignity and disdain for basic civil rights,” said Joseph Cassidy-Schaffer, Legal Director for the coalition.

The coalition also pointed to way they say is a broader systemic issue: the federal government’s indiscriminate targeting of immigrants, including many who have complied fully with U.S. immigration laws or who are fleeing violence and poverty.

“Our federal government has indefinitely suspended the right to due process,” said Irene Sanchez, Executive Director. “We will not accept our tax dollars being used to aid a federal government that refuses to abide by the ideals of our Constitution and our founding fathers, among whom we proudly count Frederick Douglass.”

Rochester, a self-declared Sanctuary City, has long prided itself on protecting and uplifting immigrant communities. Protesters argued that allowing Avelo to use the Frederick Douglass Airport for deportation operations directly contradicts the city’s values of inclusion and justice.

Pressure has been mounting at the county level as well. County Legislature Rachel Barnhart and other members of the Monroe County Legislature have formally called on the administration of County Executive Adam Bello to reconsider doing business with Avelo Airlines. Legislators argue that permitting Avelo to operate at a publicly funded facility—especially one named after a freedom fighter like Frederick Douglass—is incompatible with Monroe County’s commitment to equity and justice.

In response to the growing backlash, Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy acknowledged the controversy, stating:

“We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic. After significant deliberations, we determined this charter flying will provide us with the stability to continue expanding our core scheduled passenger service and keep our more than 1,100 crewmembers employed for years to come.”

Levy emphasized that Avelo has previously operated similar flights under different administrations, adding, “Regardless of the administration or party affiliation, as a U.S. flag carrier, when our country calls and requests assistance, our practice is to say 'yes.' We follow all protocols from DHS and FAA, honoring our core value of Safety Always.”

In New Haven, Connecticut—Avelo’s largest base—similar protests are underway. Mayor Justin Elicker called the agreement “inconsistent with our city’s values,” joining a growing national call for travelers to boycott the airline.

As May approaches, organizers say protests will continue, and they’re calling on elected officials at every level to intervene.

“Rochester will not be a silent accomplice to the machinery of deportation,” said local organizer Maria Alvarez. “We are a city that welcomes. And we intend to keep it that way.”